Noiseexcavating and loading machine operatorssilica dust

Health Hazards in Construction

This module gives a general overview of the various health hazards to which construction workers may be exposed.

– This poses a great challenge in protecting the safety and health of construction workers.

– Construction workers are at risk of exposure to various health hazards that can result in injury,

well as from nearby activities (“bystander exposure”)

Health Hazard Categories

Some Examples of Construction Health Hazards

Workers may also be exposed to

chemicals generated during

Acute vs. Chronic
• There are generally two types of health effects from chemical exposure, acute and chronic.

• ACUTE
– Appears immediately or within short time following

more
– Continued or repeated for a prolonged period, usually

years
– Examples:
• Lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelomia from exposure to asbestos
• Silicosis from exposure to crystalline silica
• Leukemia from exposure to benzene

– Asbestos exposure can cause breathing
problems, lung cancer and cancer of the lung lining many years after exposure.

Welding Fumes
• Welding fumes contain …
– a variety of chemicals depending on what is being welded on, chemical makeup of welding rods,

Chromium Hexavalent (CrVI)
• Hexavalent chromium compounds, exist in several forms.

– Industrial uses of hexavalent chromium compounds include chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics; chromates added as anticorrosive agents to paints, primers, and other

Link: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hexavalentchromium/index.html

Solvents
• Millions of workers are exposed to solvents on a daily basis.

– The photo shows a solvent which presents significant health hazards. What do you think might be an excellent source of information to help avoid exposure? Use your mouse on the

photo to find out.

– Quartz is the most common form of crystalline silica.

– Cristobalite and tridymite are two other forms.

– Silica exposure remains a serious threat to nearly 2 million U.S. workers.

– Seriousness of the health hazards associated with silica exposure is demonstrated by the fatalities and

Crystalline Silica

Symptoms of silicosis
• Chronic/classic silicosis: 15–20 years of moderate to low exposures; symptoms may or may not be obvious; chest x-ray to determine if there is lung damage; worker may experience shortness of breath upon exercising and have clinical signs of poor oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.

– Most severe exposures generally occur during
abrasive blasting with sand to remove paint and rust from bridges, tanks, concrete structures, and other surfaces.

– Other construction activities that may result in severe exposure include: jack hammering, rock/well drilling, concrete mixing, concrete drilling, brick and concrete block cutting and sawing, tuck pointing, tunneling operations.

– Use all available work practices to control dust exposures (e.g. water sprays).

– Wear disposable or washable work clothes and shower if facilities are
available. Vacuum the dust from your clothes (with a HEPA vacuum) or change into clean clothing before leaving the work site.