Terrazzo Workers

Terrazzo is a floor or wall surface made of marble or glass chips set in cement or epoxy and ground smooth. Installers mix, pour and trowel the material, then grind and polish it. The job involves chemicals, dust, wet conditions and heavy physical work.

• Terrazzo
• Floor Finishers
• Tile & Stone

Hazards

• Wet cement: alkaline, causes chemical burns and dermatitis. Skin damage can be serious without much pain at first.
• Epoxy resins and hardeners: can cause skin allergy and breathing problems. See Epoxies & Resins.
• Silica dust from grinding. See Silica.
• Noise and vibration from grinders and polishers.
• Knee and back strain from kneeling, bending and lifting heavy bags and buckets.
• Slips on wet slurry, and electrical shock from tools in wet areas.
• Fumes in enclosed rooms from epoxy and sealers.

Controls

• Use wet grinding or grinders with dust shrouds attached to HEPA vacuums. See Concrete Floor Grinders.
• Clean slurry promptly with wet vacuums. Do not let it dry and turn to dust.
• Ventilate the room and keep other trades out during mixing and application.
• Use GFCI protection on all tools and cords and keep cords off wet floors.
• Use mixers and lifts to move bags, and share the lift for heavy buckets.
• Rotate tasks and take breaks to rest knees and back. Use knee pads and kneeling pads.

PPE

• Waterproof, alkali-resistant gloves and long sleeves for cement; chemical-resistant gloves (such as nitrile) for epoxy
• Rubber boots that keep wet cement out, and pants worn over the boots
• Safety glasses or goggles to protect eyes from splashes
• Hearing protection near grinders
• A respirator when dust or vapors remain above limits. See Respiratory Protection
• Knee protection. See Knee Protection

Last updated: October 8, 2026