(07-13) B.cosh - Environmental

COSH
CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

COSH
CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH
ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFETY
Facts…
Construction work is featured by high labour
turnover, constantly changing work
environment and conditions on site
Construction workers are exposed to a

wide variety of health hazards on the job
Exposure differs from trade to trade, job to

job, day by day, even by the hour
Environmental Safety
Health Hazards in Construction Site
Exposure to any one hazard is typically

intermittent and of short duration but is likely to
reoccur
May also be exposed as a bystander to hazards

produced by those who work nearby
The severity of each hazard depends on the

concentration and duration of exposure for that
particular job
What is OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE?
A science that deals with the

 recognition,
 evaluation and
 control
of workplace conditions that may cause
sickness, impaired health and well-being, or
significant discomfort among workers or
among the citizens of the community.
Environmental Hazards
in Construction
Chemical Physical
Biological Social
Ergonomics
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
These include exposure to …

1. Noise
2. Extreme Temperature
3. Extreme Pressure
4. Inadequate illumination
5. Vibration
6. Radiation
7. Insufficient ventilation
Physical Hazards…
NOISE . . .
 unwanted sound
Decibels = dB(A) unit of measurement
Types of Noise:
 Continuous
 Intermittent
 Impact
Arm’s Length Rule
“If two people with no hearing

impairment have to raise their voices or
shout to be heard in a distance of less
than arms length from each other, the
sound level is potentially hazardous.”
Noise Levels
Activity dB
Manual Machining 80
Electric motor 88 – 90
Spray Painting 100 – 105
Tunnel 105 – 107
Blasting 138
Grinding 94 - 97
Physical Hazards…
Extreme Temperature
Physical Hazards . . . Illumination
 It is the measure of the stream of light
falling on a surface.
Sources of Light Types of Lighting

1. Natural light 1. General lighting
 Daylight 2. Local lighting
2. Artificial light
 Incandescent bulbs
 Fluorescent lamps
 Mercury lamps
Physical Hazards . . . Vibration ...
 It is a physical factor that acts on man by
transmission of mechanical energy from sources of
oscillation.
Sources:
• Vibration sources transmitted to workers’ hand
– hand driven power tools such as chain saw,
portable grinder & polishers
• Whole body vibration sources – weaving looms,
harvester-thresher, tractors, etc.
Physical Hazards . . . RADIATION
Types of Radiation:
 Ionizing Radiation
 Cosmic radiation coming from outer space and
radioactive materials
 X-rays, Gamma Rays, Alpha and Beta Particles
 Non-Ionizing Radiation
 Lasers, Microwave, Infrared (IR), Visible light,
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, radio frequencies
Ventilation . . .
• It is the process of supplying or removing
air by natural or mechanical means to and
from any space
Natural Ventilation Mechanical Ventilation

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
 Bacteria, Virus, Fungi, Enzymes,

Micro-organism
Exposure can be:
Unsanitary conditions of canteen, rest rooms, lockers etc.
Removal of industrial waste and sewage
Food handling
Contact with workers with communicable diseases
Contact with animals especially pests, rats, etc.
Ergonomic Hazards
“Ergo” = “work”
“Nomos” = “laws”
Ergonomics is a multidisciplinary
activity that assembles information on people’s
capacities & applies that information in designing
jobs, products, workplaces, and equipment.
Remember: “Fit the task to the man”

ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
 Improperly designed
tools or work areas
 Improper lifting
 Poor visual condition
 Repeated motions in
awkward positions
Ergonomics Hazards
Chemicals
in the
Workplace
Chemicals have
improved our
QUALITY of LIFE.
General Concepts . . .
Chemicals are found everywhere around us….
…in the food we eat
… the water we drink
… the consumer products we use
… and the air we breathe

What are the
CHEMICAL HAZARDS?
Organic Solvents
Heavy Metals
Gases
Acids
Dusts
What are the forms
CHEMICAL HAZARDS?
Vapors
Fumes
Smoke
Mists
Particulates
Environmental Hazards in Construction
What is a Confined Space ?
An enclosed or partially enclosed space that

 Is not designed or intended for human occupancy except
for the purpose of performing work
 Has restricted means of access and egress
 May become hazardous to any person entering to it
Canada Occupational Safety and Health Regulations

Examples of confined spaces
 Sewers Confined space

 Manholes
 Tanks
 Vessels
 Bins Confined space
 Tunnels
 Sludge
Digestion
Systems
 Utility Vaults
 Mechanical
Rooms
Hazards in Confined Space
 Oxygen
deficiency
 Flammable
atmosphere
 Toxic
atmosphere
 Mechanical and
physical hazards
Hazards in Confined Space and Their Control Measure
Atmospheric testing should be done before

entry to confined spaces for the following:
O2 Deficiency: Level range: 19.5 - 23.5%

Methane Lighter than air
Carbon Monoxide Slightly lighter than air
Hydrogen Sulfide Heavier than air

Primary Hazards Encountered in
Skilled Construction Trades
Occupations Hazards
 Hard tile setters  Vapors from bonding
agents, awkward
 Carpenters postures
 Wood dust
 Drywall installers
 Plaster dust
Occupations Hazards
 Electrical power  Heavy metals in solder
installers and fumes, asbestos dust
repairers  Solvent vapors, toxic
 Painters
metals in pigments and
paint additives
 Plumbers  Lead and welding fumes
Occupations Hazards
 Pipefitters  Lead and welding
fumes, asbestos dust
 Carpet layers  Awkward postures,
vapors from glue
 Soft tile  Vapors from bonding
installers agents
 Rail- and Track-laying equipment
 operators
Silica dust, heat
 Roofers
 Heat, vapors from

 Welders roofing tar
 Welding emissions
Occupations Hazards
 Insulation workers  Dust from asbestos and
synthetic fibers,
awkward postures
 Paving, surfacing and  Emissions from asphalt
tamping equipment gasoline, diesel and
operators
engine exhaust, heat
 Silica dust, heat
Occupations Hazards
 Solderers  Welding emissions, lead
and cadmium fumes
 Drillers, earth, rock  Silica dust, whole-body

vibration, noise
Occupations Hazards
 Air hammer  Noise, whole-body
operators vibration, silica dust
 Pile driving  Noise, whole-body
operators vibration
 Excavating and  Silica dust, whole-body
loading machine vibration, heat, noise
operators
Occupations Hazards
 Grader, dozer and  Silica dust, whole-body
scraper operators vibration, heat, noise
 Highway and street  Asphalt emissions, heat,
construction workers diesel engine exhaust
 Truck and tractor  Whole-body vibration,
equipment operators diesel engine exhaust
Occupations Hazards
 Demolition workers  Asbestos, lead, dust,
noise
 Hazardous waste  Heat, gases
workers
HAZARD RECOGNITION
PROCEDURES
Conduct walk-through survey

Get worker’s health complaints related to
their contact to various chemicals
Note the processes involved
Raw Materials Used, Products and By-
products
Look for labels and CSDS/MSDS of
chemicals
CHEMICAL LABELS
It is the first source of information about
the chemical being used.
Trade name of the substance
Identity and concentration
Danger markings; safety precautions
Manner of destroying the package
Risks associated with the use of the chemical
Name of manufacturer & address
DANGER SYMBOLS/MARKINGS
Explosive Toxic Harmful
Corrosive Oxidizing Flammable

What is CSDS / MSDS ?
 A summary of the important health,
safety and toxicological information on
the chemical or the mixture ingredients.
Contents of the CSDS/MSDS
1. Identification of the Chemicals

2. Composition/Information on
Ingredients.
3. Hazards Identification.
4. First-aid Measures.
5. Fire-fighting Measures.
6. Accidental Release Measures
7. Handling and Storage
8. Personal Protection
Contents of the CSDS/MSDS
9. Physical and Chemical Properties

10. Stability and Reactivity
11. Toxicological Information
12. Ecological Information
13. Disposal Considerations
14. Transport Information
15. Regulatory Information
16. Other Information
Permissible Noise Exposure, OSHS
Duration/day, Sound Level,

Hours (hr) dB
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1½ 102
1 105
1/2 110
1/4 115
Recommended Illumination Levels
Type of work / operation performed Minimum
lighting level
Passageway, corridor, warehouse 50 lux
Engine, boiler, locker, washrooms, etc. 100 lux
Medium assembling, rough 200 lux
bench/machine work, sewing light
colored textile, meat packing
Office desk work, weaving, plating 300 lux
Fine inspection, fine polishing, sorting, 500 - 1000 lux
accounting, bookkeeping, drafting
Fine assembly, jewelry & watch making, 1000 - 2000 lux
proof reading in printing plants
CONTROL MEASURES
1. Engineering Control
2. Administrative Control
3. Personal Protective
Equipment
Remember: The degree of hazard from
exposure to health hazards or stresses
would depend on the following:
 Nature of the material involved
 Intensity of exposure
 Duration of exposure
 Individual susceptibility

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COSH

CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

Construction workers are exposed to a

Exposure differs from trade to trade, job to

Exposure to any one hazard is typically

May also be exposed as a bystander to hazards

The severity of each hazard depends on the

A science that deals with the

These include exposure to …

“If two people with no hearing

Sources of Light Types of Lighting

Natural Ventilation Mechanical Ventilation

 Bacteria, Virus, Fungi, Enzymes,

Remember: “Fit the task to the man”

… the water we drink

… the consumer products we use

… and the air we breathe

What is a Confined Space ?

An enclosed or partially enclosed space that

Canada Occupational Safety and Health Regulations

 Sewers Confined space

Atmospheric testing should be done before

O2 Deficiency: Level range: 19.5 - 23.5%

Hydrogen Sulfide Heavier than air

 Heat, vapors from

 Drillers, earth, rock  Silica dust, whole-body

Conduct walk-through survey

Explosive Toxic Harmful

Corrosive Oxidizing Flammable

1. Identification of the Chemicals

9. Physical and Chemical Properties

Duration/day, Sound Level,

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