presentation on introduction to safety health and management

8/12/2019 Presentation on introduction to safety health and management

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Safety , Health and Environment management

Lecture 1

Unit 1- Safety, Health and Environment


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Safety is ..

The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause

danger, risk, or injuryor

Denoting something designed to prevent injury or damage:

"a safety barrier"; "a safety helmet

Construction is ..

the process of making, building, fabrication and/or erection

of structures for some facility to be housed in the same

Despite mechanization, construction remains a major employer of labour

It often employs between 9 and 12 per cent of a countrys working population,

and sometimes as much as 20 per cent


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The characteristics which contribute to the high rate of

accidents in the construction industry which distinguish it

from the rest of the manufacturing sector are:

The high proportion of small firms and of self-employed workers

The variety and comparatively short life of construction sites

The high turnover of workers

The large numbers of seasonal and migrant workers, many of whom

are unfamiliar with construction processes

Exposure to the weather

The many different trades and occupations


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Safe and healthy working conditions do not happen by chance

Employers need to have a written safety policy for their enterprise setting out the

safety and health standards

The safety policy should deal with the following matters:

Arrangements for training at all levels, particular attention needs to be given to

key workers such as scaffolders and crane operators whose mistakes can be

especially dangerous to other workers

Safe methods or systems of work for hazardous operations: the workers carrying

out these operations should be involved in their preparation

The duties and responsibilities of supervisors and key workers

Arrangements by which information on safety and health is to be made known

Arrangements for setting up safety committees

The selection and control of subcontractors


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Safety Principles:

Ensuring safety at construction sites is mandatory requirement

as it is directly related to welfare of staffs and contractors workers

All accidents and occurrences of nearmisses can be avoided by proper

planning and thorough implementation of safe practices at work place

All types of injuries, fatalities, loss of property and time can be minimized

through preventive measures

To increase the safety consciousness of the workforce and the supervisory

staffs through continuous training and motivation towards safe practices

Regular monitoring, inspections and safety audits will form an integral part of

the safety programmes at the worksite


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Health is .a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and

not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

A large number of workers in construction sector are vulnerable to thevagaries of workplace accidents and occupational health problems

They are exposed to a wide variety of serious OSH hazards and the rate of fatal

accidents in this industry is 4 to 5 times that of manufacturing sector

The workers are also exposed to a host of hazardous substances, which have apotential to cause serious occupational diseases such as asbestosis, silicosis,

lead poisoning etc

There is also a serious potential for fires due to storage and use of flammable

substances and a potential for disasters due to collapse of the structures and

subsidence of the soil on which the construction activity is being carried

The Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation for Employment and

Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 was promulgated in 1996 and Central Rules

under this Act were notified in 1998

Except for Kerala and Karnataka no other state have notified these rules


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Hazardmeans danger or potential danger

Construction workers are exposed to various health

hazards that can result to illness , diseases or even death

Hazards atconstruction site

Chemical Physical Biological Ergonomical


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Occupations Potential Health Hazards

Brickmasons Cement dermatitis, awkward postures, heavy loads

Drywall installers Plaster dust, heavy loads, awkward postures

ElectriciansHeavy metals in solder fumes, awkward posture, heavyloads, asbestos

Painters Solvent vapors, toxic metals in pigments, paint additives

Pipefitters Lead fumes and particles, welding fumes, asbestos dustCarpet layers Knee trauma, awkward postures, glue and glue vapor

Insulation workers Asbestos, synthetic fibers, awkward postures

Roofers Roofing tar, heat

Carpenters Noise, awkward postures, repetitive motionDrillers, earth, rock Silica dust, whole-body vibration, noise

Excavating and loadingmachine operators

Silica dust, histoplasmosis, whole-body vibration, heatstress, noise

Hazardous waste

workersHeat stress, toxic chemicals

Some Examples of Construction Health Hazards


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Chemical HazardsChemicals can exist in the form of:

dusts, fumes, fibers (solids)

liquids, mists

gases, vapors

welding fumes

spray paints cutting oil mists

solvents

hexavalent chromium

Examples of

chemical

hazards found

in construction

work:

asbestos

lead silica

cadmium

carbon

monoxide

Chemicals are found in variety of products used at construction sites. Workers may also

be exposed to chemicals generated during construction activities.


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inhalation

Chemicals can enter the body through:

breathed in

ingestion

absorption

accidental swallowing through eating,drinking, or smoking

absorbed through contact with skin or

eyes

Inhalation is typically the most common way chemicalscan enter the body in a work situation.

Injection, in which a chemical enters the body when the skin is punctured,

occurs rarely (e.g., paint from a high-pressure spray gun).


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HEALTH EFFECTS EXPOSURE EXAMPLE

ACUTE

Appears immediately orwithin short time followingexposure, (minutes or

hours); death possiblefrom some hazardoussubstances

Typically sudden,short-term, highconcentration

Headache,collapse ordeath from high

levels of carbonmonoxide

CHRONIC

Usually develops slowly,as long as 15-20 years or

more

Continued orrepeated for a

prolonged period,usually years

Lung cancerfrom exposure

to asbestos

Some chemicals can have both acute and chronic effects, e.g.,

carbon monoxide.

Two types of health effects fromchemical exposure


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Asbestos

AVOID BREATHING AIRBORNE ASBESTOS

FIBERS

asbestos pipe insulationConstruction workers may be exposed toasbestos during demolition or remodeling of

older buildings built before 1980 which can

contain asbestos insulation, or other asbestos

containing products. Asbestos removal can

only be done by specially trained asbestos

workers.

Asbestos exposure can cause breathing

problems, lung cancer and cancer of the lung

lining many years after exposure.


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Welding Fumes

Welding fumes contain a variety ofchemicals 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.

Welding on a stainless steel tank

Welding in a confined space


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SolventsA 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.


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Silica more than just dust

Silica or quartz dust exposure is very common in constructionfrom drilling, cutting or grinding on concrete, sandblasting, rock

drilling or in masonry work.

Exposure to excessive silica dust causes lung scarring and lungdisease over time.

Brick cutting Concrete cuttingBlowing concrete dust with

compressed air


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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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Confined Spaces

Exposure to chemicals or lack of oxygen in confined spaces can

be deadly.Airborne chemicals can quickly reach

dangerous levels in confined spaces

that are not ventilated. Carbon

monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, welding

fumes and solvent vapors are typicalconfined space chemical hazards.

In some confined spaces, oxygen

deficiency will cause the person

entering to instantly collapse.

Confined spaces include manholes, sewers, vaults, tanks, and boilers in new

construction or in repair and maintenance work.

As many co-workers who attempt rescue die in confined spaces as the original

worker who collapsed.


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NoiseProbable noise levels of some common construction

equipment at operators ear

Prolonged exposure toexcessive noise levels can

cause noise-induced hearing

loss. Noise levels above 85

decibels can cause hearing

loss.

When you are exposed to

excessive noise levels, the first

stage is temporary hearing loss.

Over time, the hearing loss

becomes permanent.

Equipment or Tool Noise level will probablyexceed:

Back hoe 85 decibels

Bulldozer 87 decibels

Chopsaw 92 decibels

Grader/scraper 107 decibels

Front end loader 90 decibels

Jackhammer 102 decibels

Nail-gun 97 decibels

Router 90 decibels

Welding equipment 92 decibels

Source: U.W. Dept. of Environmental & Occupational Health

ServicesRick Neitzel July, 2005
http://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdfhttp://staff.washington.edu/rneitzel/commontools.pdf


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Type of equipment beingoperated

Condition/maintenance of theequipment

Other equipment running atthe same time

Enclosed or partially enclosedspaces

Several factors influence the noise levels to which

workers are exposed:

High noise levels can be sporadic in construction. Damage to hearing is

cumulative and exposure limits are based on 8-hour averages. Workers not using

or operating equipment are often exposed to excessive noise as much as the

operators.


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Vibration

Whole-body vibration canoccur from operating largemobile equipment, such as

drillers, air hammers, piledrivers, tractors, graders,excavators, earth-movingequipment, and otherlarge machinery.


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VibrationHand-arm vibration can result from using hand-held powertools, such as pneumatic drills and hammers, and disc grinders.

Hand-arm vibration may cause carpal

tunnel syndrome, a disease that affects thefingers and hands. In the long run,

permanent damages to the nerves will

result in a loss of the sense of touch and

dexterity.

Working in a cold and damp environment

can aggravate the harmful effects of hand-

arm vibration.


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Temperature ExtremesA change in body temperature due to extreme work environmental conditions can

lead to stress or illness from heat or cold. If not treated in time, both heat and cold

stress/illness can develop into life-threatening situations.

Heat illnesses:

Heat rash

Fainting

Heat cramps

Heat exhaustion

Heat stroke

Cold illnesses and injuries:

Frost nip

Immersion injury (trench foot) Frost bite

Hypothermia

Heavy work in high temperatures can cause muscle cramps, dehydration, sudden

collapse, and unconsciousness.

Cold temperatures can lead to fatigue, irregular breathing, confusion, and loss of

consciousness (hypothermia).


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Heat

prolonged work under directsunlight in summer (e.g., asphalt

paving or roofing in summer)

wearing impermeable protective

clothing when doing heavy work

Hot conditions can occur from:

working in an enclosed area with a strong heat source, poorventilation, and high humidity (e.g., heavy equipment

operators in an enclosed cab with without sufficient

ventilation)


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Cold

cold air temperatures

rain, snow, sleet, or other wet

weather conditions

windy conditions

underground construction work

working over water and falling in

Cold conditions:


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Ionizing Radiation

X-rays and gamma rays from equipment

used to gauge the density and thickness

of pipes, to inspect welds, or fordetecting weakness of metal structures

radioactive isotopes from flow meters

Health effects: increased risk of developing cancer and genetic disease.


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non-ionizing radiation

ultraviolet light from sunlight & welding

infrared radiation from torch welding and

cutting

radio waves from radio transmission

devices ( roof-top dishes & antennas)

lasers used for aligning, ranging, and

surveying are usually low-powered but

can cause eye injuries if directly viewed

for extended time

skin cancer

eye damage

premature skin aging

burns

Health effects:

Rooftop radio antenna

Welding ultraviolet light


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Biological Hazards

Microorganisms (e.g.,

bacteria, viruses, fungi,

molds)

Diseases or illnesses can occur from biological sources:

Some of these diseases are minor infections; others can be serious or deadly.

West Nile virus

Lyme Disease

Histoplasmosis (fungus in bird droppings)

Hantavirus

Plant toxins poison oak & sumac;

stinging nettles

Poison oak


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Biological HazardsExposure may occur during demolition, renovation, sewer work, work on air

handling systems, or other construction work from contact with contaminated

or disease-carrying:

soil

water

insects (mosquitoes, ticks)

bird or bat droppings

animals

structures

Pigeon droppings in abandoned building


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Ergonomic HazardsErgonomic hazards can cause painful and disabling injuries to joints

and muscles. The can occur from: heavy, frequent, or awkward lifting

repetitive tasks

awkward grips, postures using excessive force, overexertion

using wrong tools for the job

or using tools improperly

using improperly maintained tools

hand-intensive work

Ergonomic hazards are the most frequently occurring health hazards in

construction and the cause of most injuries.


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Ergonomic Hazards

strains and sprains

one of the most common injuriesamong construction workers

tendonitis

carpal tunnel syndrome

low back pain

fatigue

can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and injuries:


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Multiple health hazards

In some cases, workers can be exposed to several health hazards at

the same time or on the same worksite over time.

This worker is simultaneously exposed to noise,

silica dust, vibration and ergonomic hazards.


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presentation on introduction to safety health and management

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