CONSTRUCTION

The Health and Safety Executives (HSE) 2000/01 figures show that year, that of the 295-workplace fatalities, 106 occurred in the construction industry. The European Union construction sector employs about 7% of the total workforce yet accounts for 15% of all occupational accidents and 30% of all fatalities in the industrial sector.

Falls from height are the largest cause of accidental death, but the majority of accidents could be prevented, causes of falls, include unsafe or collapsed scaffolding, lack of guardrails and toe boards, unsafe ladders, work on fragile roofs and demolition work.

Excavations in additions to falls into excavations there is also the hazard of collapse of the sides of excavations, materials falling onto people working in the excavation and contact with underground services.

Noise generated from equipment used in construction, such as breakers and drills can be damaging and can lead to occupational deafness: ear protection zones should be marked wherever employees are likely to be exposed to the second action level. The first action level is 85 dB(A),LEP,d and the second action level is 90 dB(A),LEP,d.

Asbestos poses a serious risk to construction workers and can lead to asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos is present in many buildings built or refurbished before the mid 1980s. Exposure to asbestos dust can occur during demolition work and when repairing or refurbishing buildings than contain asbestos. New materials containing asbestos such as asbestos cement are now banned from use in the UK.

Electrical equipment used should be selected and operated bearing in mind the following considerations;

1. Substitution - electrical tools and equipment may be replaced with pneumatic equipment (which have there own specific dangers);
   
2. Switching off circuits and apparatus, when not in use;
   
3. Reducing the voltage - using battery powered tools where practicable;
   
4. Cable and socket protection; and
   
5. Using battery powered tools where practicable;

Manual handling in construction work can involve repetitive and heavy lifting e.g. cement sacks as well as pushing and pulling equipment across sites: construction workers can suffer from back pain, hernias and other handling injuries.

Dermatitis contracted from cement and other chemicals such as solvents and paints can cause serious skin problems: this causes an inflammation of the skin especially on hands, wrists, forearms and legs.

Vibration work with tools or machines that vibrate can lead to vibration white finger (VWF), especially if the hands and fingers are cold; in this condition the blood supply to the fingers is reduced in an attempt to conserve heat when the body begins to become cold; machines such as pneumatic drills and chain saws are known causes.

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
Thorne House, 152 Brent Street, Hendon. NW4 2DP
Tel: 020 8202 8272
Fax: 020 8202 2893