Health Hazards in Construction

Types of Health Hazards

Chemical Hazards

• Paints, solvents, and adhesives
• Concrete and masonry products
• Welding fumes
• Acids and caustics
• Cleaning products
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Treated wood and preservatives
• Asphalt and roofing materials

Physical Hazards

• Extreme temperatures (heat and cold)
• Noise
• Vibration from tools and equipment
• Radiation (UV from sun, welding, radioactive materials)
• Confined spaces
• Repetitive motions
• Awkward postures
• Manual handling of heavy materials

Biological Hazards

• Mold and fungi
• Bacteria from sewage or contaminated water
• Bird or rodent droppings
• Insect bites
• Poisonous plants
• Bloodborne pathogens

Airborne Hazards

• Silica dust from concrete, masonry, or stone
• Asbestos fibers from older buildings
• Wood dust from cutting and sanding
• Lead dust from old paint
• Mold spores
• Diesel exhaust

How Health Hazards Enter the Body

Inhalation

• Most common route of exposure
• Hazards enter through nose and mouth into lungs
• Smaller particles penetrate deeper into lungs
• Can cause both immediate and long-term effects

Skin Contact

• Direct contact with hazardous substances
• Can cause dermatitis, burns, or rashes
• Some chemicals can be absorbed through skin
• May enter through cuts or abrasions

Ingestion

• Usually accidental from hand-to-mouth contact
• Eating or drinking in contaminated areas
• Poor hygiene (not washing before eating)
• Contaminated food or water

Injection

• Puncture wounds from contaminated objects
• Pressurized fluid penetrating skin
• High-pressure paint or grease guns
• Stepping on nails or sharp objects

Common Construction Health Problems

Respiratory Diseases

• Silicosis from silica dust exposure
• Asbestosis from asbestos fiber exposure
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Occupational asthma
• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma (from asbestos)

Skin Disorders

• Contact dermatitis
• Chemical burns
• Skin cancer (from sun exposure)
• Cement burns
• Rashes from fiberglass or other irritants
• Infections from cuts and abrasions

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

• Permanent and irreversible
• Gradual and often unnoticed until significant
• Caused by repeated exposure to loud noise
• Preventable with proper protection
• Common from power tools, heavy equipment, generators

Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Back injuries
• Joint pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Muscle strains
• Caused by repetitive motions, awkward postures, heavy lifting

Heat and Cold Stress

• Heat exhaustion and heat stroke
• Hypothermia and frostbite
• Dehydration
• Increased risk of other injuries due to impaired performance
• Can be life-threatening in extreme cases

Recognizing Health Hazards

Physical Signs

• Visible dust in the air
• Unusual odors
• Open containers of chemicals
• Damaged materials (like disturbed asbestos)
• Noisy environments
• Extreme temperatures

Warning Labels and Signs

• Hazard Communication labels
• Danger, Warning, and Caution signs
• Pictograms showing health effects
• Areas requiring PPE
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Symptoms of Exposure

• Irritation of eyes, nose, or throat
• Coughing or wheezing
• Dizziness or headaches
• Skin rashes or irritation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Unusual fatigue
• Hearing difficulty

Controlling Health Hazards

Hierarchy of Controls

1. Elimination: Remove the hazard completely
2. Substitution: Replace with something less hazardous
3. Engineering Controls: Isolate people from the hazard
4. Administrative Controls: Change how people work
5. Personal Protective Equipment: Protect the worker

Engineering Controls

• Local exhaust ventilation
• Wet methods for dust control
• Sound barriers or enclosures
• Vibration dampening
• Automatic material handling
• Tool design improvements

Administrative Controls

• Job rotation
• Work scheduling during cooler hours
• Rest breaks
• Hygiene facilities
• Training programs
• Exposure monitoring

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Respirators
• Hearing protection
• Gloves
• Safety glasses/goggles
• Chemical protective clothing
• Sunscreen

Health Hazard Monitoring

Air Monitoring

• Dust measurements
• Chemical sampling
• Gas detection
• Compare results to permissible exposure limits
• Both personal and area monitoring

Noise Monitoring

• Decibel measurements
• Dosimetry for personal exposure
• Identifying high-noise areas
• Determining need for hearing protection
• Establishing hearing conservation programs

Medical Surveillance

• Baseline and periodic exams
• Hearing tests
• Lung function tests
• Blood tests for specific exposures
• Early detection of work-related health problems

Workers' Rights and Reporting

Right to Know

• Information about hazardous materials
• Access to Safety Data Sheets
• Training on health hazards
• Knowledge of monitoring results
• Understanding protective measures

Reporting Health Concerns

• Report symptoms to supervisor
• Request evaluation of hazards
• File a confidential complaint with OSHA
• Participate in workplace inspections
• Request medical examinations

Protection from Retaliation

• Legal protection for good faith health complaints
• Right to refuse work in imminent danger situations
• Whistleblower protections
• Reporting process for retaliation

Specific Construction Tasks and Hazards

Concrete Work

• Silica dust exposure
• Cement dermatitis
• Noise from mixers and vibrators
• Ergonomic hazards from finishing
• Controls: wet methods, proper tools, PPE

Painting and Coating

• Solvent exposure
• Isocyanates in some paints
• Lead in older paint removal
• Spray application hazards
• Controls: ventilation, respirators, less toxic alternatives

Welding and Cutting

• Metal fumes (zinc, manganese, chromium)
• Gases (ozone, nitrogen oxides)
• UV radiation
• Noise
• Controls: local exhaust, ventilation, screens, PPE

Demolition

• Asbestos
• Lead
• Silica
• Mold and biological hazards
• Controls: pre-job surveys, wetting, containment, proper PPE