Concrete burn (cement burn)
Chemical burns caused by prolonged skin contact with wet concrete, which is strongly alkaline. Injuries can be severe and often develop without immediate pain.
What does concrete burn (cement burn) mean?
Because the burn is chemical rather than thermal, workers frequently do not notice damage until hours later, by which time it can be deep enough to require skin grafting. Kneeling in fresh concrete with saturated pants and boots is the classic mechanism. Prevention is waterproof gloves, boots, knee pads, and immediate flushing with water when contact occurs.
In practice
Finishers kneeling in wet concrete all day without waterproof protection is how the worst of these injuries still happen.