SDS No.

CASDS01 | Issue Date: 1 September 2018

SAFETY DATA SHEET

General Purpose Cement

Section 1: Identification of the Material and Supplier
Company Details
Cement Australia Pty Limited
ABN 75 104 053 474
18 Station Avenue Tel: 1300 CEMENT (1300 236 368)
Darra, Queensland 4076 Fax: 1800 CEMENT (1800 236 368)
Website: www.cementaustralia.com.au

Emergency Contact Number: Contact Person: Technical Manager

Telephone: 1300 CEMENT (1300 236 368 - Business Hours) or
Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26

Manufacturing Plants
Gladstone: Landing Rd, Fisherman’s Landing, Gladstone QLD 4680
Brisbane: 77 Pamela St, Pinkenba QLD 4008
Railton: Cement Works Rd, Railton, TAS 7305
Port Kembla Off Christy Rd, Port Kembla, NSW 2505

Product
Name: General Purpose Cement (Type GP)

Other Names: Portland Cement, Shrinkage Limited Cement*, HE (High Early) Cement*, Off White
Cement, White Cement, Grey Cement, Tradies Own Type GP Cement, Sulfate
Resisting Cement*, Manufacturers Cement

Use: General Purpose Cement is used as a binder in concrete, concrete masonry, mortar
and grouts. It is also used in the manufacture of fibre cement products, in soil
stabilisation in building construction and civil engineering projects.
This SDS reflects the handling of Cement Powder in bulk or bagged form. Adding
water to Cement changes the properties and the SDS for those products listed
above should be referenced.
* AS3972 prescribes whether the cement conforms to these specific sub-categories.

Section 2: Hazards Identification

Hazardous Substance. Non-dangerous Goods

Specific Target Organ Systemic Toxicity (Repeated Exposure): Category 2

Serious Eye Damage / Eye Irritation: Category 2A
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Category 2
DANGER
The properties of Cement change when water is added. See SDS for Wet Concrete.

Hazard statement(s)
H315 Causes skin irritation.
H319 Causes serious eye irritation.
H373 May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (skin).

For more information call 1300 CEMENT (1300 236 368)

or visit www.cementaustralia.com.au
 Prevention statement(s)
P264 Wash skin thoroughly after handling.
P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection rated for Dust.
P260 + P261 Avoid/Do not breathe dust. Cement can become easily airborne.
Response statement(s)
P302 + P352 IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.
P332 + P313 If skin irritation occurs: Get medical advice/attention.
P304 + P340 + P305 IF INHALED: Remove to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
P351 + P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and
P337 + P313 easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention.
P314 + P312 Call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician if you feel unwell.
P321 Specific treatment is advised - see first aid instructions.
P362 Take off contaminated clothing and wash before re-use.
Storage statement(s)
P403 + P233 Store in a well-ventilated place.
P405 Keep container tightly closed. Store locked up.
Disposal statement(s)
P501 Dispose of contents/container in accordance with relevant regulations.
2.3 Other hazards No information provided.

Section 3: Composition/Information on Ingredients

General Purpose Cement consists of a crystalline mass manufactured from substances mined from the earth’s crust. It contains
trace amounts of naturally occurring, but potentially hazardous chemical entities including metals such as chromium and nickel.
All significant constituents are listed below:

Chemical Entity Proportion CAS Number

Portland Clinker <97% 65997-15-1
Gypsum (CaSO 2H O) 2-5% 10101-41-4
Limestone (CaCO ) 0-7.5% 1317-65-3
Calcium Oxide 0-1% 1305-78-8
Hexavalent Chromium Cr (VI) <10 ppm 1333-82-0

Section 4: First Aid Measures

4.1 Description of first aid measures
Eye If in eyes, hold eyelids apart and flush continuously with running water. Continue flushing until advised
to stop by a Poisons Information Centre, a doctor, or for at least 15 minutes.
Inhalation If inhaled, remove from contaminated area. Apply artificial respiration if not breathing.
Skin If skin or hair contact occurs, remove contaminated clothing and flush skin and hair with running water.
Continue flushing with water until advised to stop by a Poisons Information Centre or a doctor.
Ingestion For advice, contact a Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26 (Australia Wide) or a doctor (at once). If
swallowed, do not induce vomiting.
First aid facilities Eye wash facilities and safety shower should be available.

4.2 Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
Irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory system. Some individuals may exhibit an allergic response upon exposure to this
product, possibly due to the trace amounts of chromium present. Hexavalent chromium compounds are classified as
carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 1).

4.3 Immediate medical attention and special treatment needed

Treat as for moderate to strong alkali and symptomatically.

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Section 5: Fire Fighting Measures
Fire/Explosion Hazard: None Special Protective Precautions None
Hazchem Code: None allocated and equipment for fire fighters: required

Flammability: Not flammable

Extinguishing Media: None required
Hazards from Combustion Products: None

Section 6: Accidental Release Measures

Spills: Spills are best cleaned up by vacuum device to avoid generating airborne dust.
Recommendations on Exposure Control and Personal Protection should be followed during spill clean-up.
Keep product out of storm water and sewer drains.
Wetting during clean-up will cause formation of setting cement.

Section 7: Handling and Storage

Handling: When supplied in bags these need to be handled in accordance with Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of
Practice.
Storage: Protect from moisture to prevent hardening. Storage of cement may be in concrete silos, steel bins, or
plastic lined multi-ply paper bags.

Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

8.1 Control parameters
Exposure standards
TWA STEL
Ingredient Reference
ppm mg/m³ ppm mg/m³

Calcium carbonate (Limestone, Marble, Whiting) SWA (AUS) -- 10 -- --

Calcium oxide SWA (AUS) -- 2 -- --

Chromium (VI) compounds (as Cr) SWA (AUS) -- 0.05 -- --

Gypsum (Calcium sulphate) SWA (AUS) -- 10 -- --

Magnesium oxide (fume) SWA (AUS) -- 10 -- --

Portland Cement SWA (AUS) -- 10 -- --

8.2 Exposure controls

Engineering controls Avoid inhalation. Use in well ventilated areas. Where an inhalation risk exists, mechanical extraction
ventilation is recommended. Maintain dust levels below the recommended exposure standard.
PPE
Eye / Face Wear safety glasses or dust-proof goggles when handling material to avoid contact with eyes.
Hands Wear PVC, rubber or cotton gloves when handling material to prevent skin contact.
Body Wear long sleeved shirt and full-length trousers.
Respiratory Where an inhalation risk exists wear a Class P1 (Particulate) respirator, dependent on a site-specific
risk assessment.

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Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties
Appearance: A fine powder ranging in colour from grey to off-white
Odour: No distinctive odour
Boiling/Melting Point: Melting point >1200ºC
Vapour Pressure: Not applicable
Specific Gravity: 3.0 – 3.2
Flash Point: Non-applicable
Flammability Limits: Not applicable
Solubility in Water: Slight, reacts on mixing with water forming an alkaline (caustic) solution (pH >11)
Particle Size: Up to 50% of the fresh dry material may be respirable (below 10 microns)

Section 10: Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Chemically stable
Conditions to Avoid: Keep free of moisture
Incompatible Materials: None
Hazardous Decomposition Products: None
Hazardous Reactions: A corrosive substance harmful to exposed skin is the result of water addition to
the point of creating a paste or slurry. See SDS for Wet Concrete.

Section 11: Toxicological Information

General Purpose Cements are stable substances, compatible with most other building materials, will not decompose into
hazardous by-products and do not polymerise.

Short Term (Acute) Exposure

Swallowed: Unlikely under normal industrial use. Mildly abrasive and corrosive to mouth and throat if swallowed. May
cause nausea, stomach cramps and constipation.

Eyes: Irritating and corrosive to the eyes and may cause alkaline burns. Cement dust is irritating to the eyes.
Exposure to dust may aggravate existing eye irritations.

Skin: Dust is irritating and drying to the skin. Direct contact with wet cement may cause serious skin burns. Within 12
to 48 hours (after one- to six-hour exposures) possible first, second or third degree burns may occur. There
may be no obvious pain at the time of the exposure. Chronic skin disorders may be aggravated by exposure to
dust or contact with wet cement.

Inhaled: Cement dust is irritating to the nose, throat and respiratory tract causing coughing and sneezing.
Pre-existing upper respiratory and lung diseases including asthma and bronchitis may be aggravated.

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Long Term (Chronic) Exposure
Eyes: Dust may cause irritation and inflammation of the cornea.

Skin: Repeated contact causes irritation and drying of the skin and can result in skin reddening and skin rash
(dermatitis). Over time this may become chronic and can also become infected. Persons who are allergic to
chromium may develop an allergic dermatitis which aggravates the irritant effects and this combination can
lead to chronic cement dermatitis and serious disability particularly affecting the hands.
Of the ingredients, Water soluble Hexavalent Chromium (Cr VI) is not classified as a carcinogen by the
Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS); may trigger skin sensitisation issues in some users.
Inhaled: Repeated exposure to the dust may result in increased nasal and respiratory secretions and coughing.
Inflammation of lining tissue of the respiratory system may follow repeated exposure to high levels of dust,
with increased risk of bronchitis and pneumonia.
Repeated and prolonged exposure to dust levels which exceed the OES for crystalline silica (see above)
may occur. This can cause bronchitis, and silicosis (scarring of the lung).

Section 12: Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Product forms an alkaline slurry when mixed with water.
Bio accumulative potential: This product is not expected to bioaccumulate.
Persistence and Degradability: Product is persistent and would have a low degradability.
Mobility: A low mobility would be expected in a landfill situation.

Section 13: Disposal Considerations

General Purpose Cement can be treated as a common waste for disposal or dumped into a landfill site, in accordance with local
authority guidelines.
Keep material out of storm water and sewer drains.

Measures should be taken to prevent dust generation during disposal, and exposure and personal precautions should be
observed (see above)

Section 14: Transport Information

May be transported by Ship, Rail, Air and Road.
UN Number: None allocated
Proper Shipping Name: None allocated
Class and Subsidiary Risk: None allocated
Packing Group: None allocated
Special precautions for user: Avoid generating and breathing dust
Hazchem Code: None allocated

Section 15: Regulatory Information

General Purpose cement is not classified as Dangerous Goods.
A poison schedule number has not been allocated to this product using the criteria in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of
Drugs and Poisons (SUSDP).
All chemicals listed on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS)

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Section 16: Other Information
For further information on this Telephone: 1300 CEMENT (1300 236 368 - Business Hours)
product contact: Facsimile: 1800 CEMENT (1800 236 368)

Previous Edition: 2014 – GHS Compliance edits made and supplementary compliance edits added.
Next Review Date for this SDS: 31 December 2020.

Australian and New Zealand Standards:

AS 2161: Industrial Safety Gloves and Mittens (excluding electrical and medical gloves).
AS/NZ 1336: Recommended Practices for Occupational Eye Protection.
AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective devices.
AS/NZS 1716: Respiratory protective devices.
AS/NZS 4501: Occupational protective clothing.

Advice Note:
Cement Australia believes the information in this document to be accurate as at the date of preparation, but, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, Cement Australia accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage caused by any person acting or
refraining from action because of this information.
The provision of this information should not be construed by anyone as a recommendation to use this product. No one should
use any product in violation of any patent or other intellectual proprietary rights or in breach of any statute or regulation.
Users should rely on their own knowledge and inquiries and make their own determination as to the applicability of this
information in relation to their particular purposes and specific circumstances. Each user should read this MSDS and consider
the information in the context of how the product will be handled and used in the workplace and in conjunction with other
substances or products.

[End SDS]

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