Construction Materials and Chemicals - Hazards and their Health Effects while handling

CONSTRUCTION HEALTH HAZARDS:

Construction jobsites are full of hazards and concrete construction jobsites are no exception. Construction workers are at risk of exposure to various health hazards that can result in injury, illness, disability, or even death.

These hazards can be dissected into categories for better reference. 

CONSTRUCTION HEALTH HAZARDS OCCUPATION-WISE:

CHEMICALS HAZARDS AND THEIR EFFECTS

Chemicals can exist in the form of 

• Dusts, Fumes, fibers (solids)
• Liquids, mists
• Gases Vapours

Chemicals are found in variety of products / materials used at construction sites. Workers may also be exposed to chemicals generated during construction activities.

Examples of chemical hazards found in construction site:

• Asbestos
• Lead
• Silica
• Cadmium
• Carbon monoxide
• Welding fumes
• Spray paints
• Cutting oil mists
• Solvents
• Hexavalent Chromium

Two types of health effects from chemical exposure

Some chemicals can have both acute and chronic effects, example: Carbon monoxide

ASBESTOSIS:

Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. And although asbestos is no longer used as an insulation material; building trades workers may still be exposed to asbestos during demolition or remodeling jobs. Asbestos may also still be found in some taping compounds, asbestos cement, pipes and floor tiles. Vinyl asbestos floor tiles may be as much as 15% to 20% asbestos, which is released when old flooring is removed.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers by workers can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs that may not appear until years after the exposure has occurred. For instance, asbestosis can cause a buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs and result in loss of lung function that often progresses to disability and death.

There is no cure for asbestosis; a doctor can only help you manage your symptoms.

SILICOSIS:

Construction workers could be exposed to silica when cutting, grinding, drilling, sanding, mixing, or demolishing materials containing silica.

The size of the airborne silica particles determines the amount of risk. Smaller particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs where they can cause damage. Larger particles, such as beach sand, are not as great a concern because they are too large to inhale.

Silicosis is a disease of the lungs due to the breathing of dust containing crystalline silica particles. This dust can cause fibrosis or scar tissue formations in the lungs that reduce the lung's ability to work to extract oxygen from the air.

There is no cure for this disease, thus, prevention is the only answer. 

EXPOSURE TO WELDING FUMES:

Welding fumes contain a variety of chemicals depending on what is being welded on, chemical makeup of welding rods, fluxes and shielding gases.

Generally, welding in confined spaces or welding on stainless steel which generates hexavalent chromium, are the most hazardous welding activities.

EXPOSURE TO SOLVENT FUMES:

A variety of solvents with varying degrees of toxicity are used in construction.  They are in paints, glues, epoxies and other products.

Generally, the possibility of exposure to excessive amounts of solvent vapors is greater when solvents are handled in enclosed or confined spaces.

Solvents can:

- Irritate your eyes, nose or throat,

-          Make you dizzy, high, sleepy, give you a    

      headache or cause you to pass out,

- Affect your judgment or coordination,

- Cause internal damage to your body,

- Dry out or irritate your skin.

EXPOSURE TO LEAD:

Construction workers can be exposed to lead on bridge repair work, lead paint removal on metal structures or buildings or demolition of old buildings with lead paint, or using lead solder.

Lead is highly toxic and can cause severe, long term health problems.

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