Mumbai University > Civil Engineering > Sem 8 > Construction Management

Marks: 6M

Year: Dec 2015, May 2015, Dec 2014, May 2014, May 2013, Dec 2012

The major occupational health hazards to which the construction professionals and workers are exposed to are as follows:-

Chemical Hazards:- these are due to liquids, dust, gases, fumes etc

• Contact with skin- Dermatitis due to contact with wet cement, epoxy resins, solvents etc.
• Inhalation of harmful chemicals- inhalation of asbestos, dust over a long term can lead to lung diseases. Inhaling carbon monoxide from engines, welding machines etc can cause nausea, breathlessness and headaches. Inhaling excess amount of carbon dioxide can prove to be fatal.
• Ingestion of harmful chemicals- e.g. swallowing of harmful chemicals like resins, solvents, paints etc by mistake or through lack of personal hygiene is common.

Physical Hazards:- those due to heat, noise, vibrations, radiation, compressed air, lasers and manual handling.

• Extreme cold or hot conditions
• Excess amount of noise from machines like pneumatic hammers can cause numbers in hands
• When surrounding pressure is more than atmospheric pressure body pain, dizziness or even death can occur.
• Strain and sprains can be caused by improper handling of material.

Biological Hazards:- those due to work in sewers and on contaminated sites. E.g. Exposure to contaminated sludge can cause various infections including jaundice, leptospirosis etc.