and providing protective equipment , employers can invest in additional means of protection .
These protection solutions come in the form of modern technologies which allow for near-instant reaction to workplace accidents . Staff safety and security solutions can help avoid or remedy accidents and cost a fraction of the potential costs , so it is an investment that pays off .
Construction Pollution ( Prana Air )
Construction pollution is the main pollution at construction and demolition sites by various construction activities . It may be in the form of air pollution , noise pollution , water pollution , or soil pollution depending on the nature of the activities being practised at the site . Dust pollution is a major variant of construction pollution and can be witnessed most readily .
Causes of construction pollution .
There are many causes of pollution at any construction site including :
( a ) Air Pollution from Construction
( i ) Dust Pollution Dust pollution on construction sites is a very common and dominating phenomenon . Different kinds of dust , such as wood dust from grilling and drilling of wood during construction , can be present in humongous amounts at a construction site . Dust piles at the sites are carried by winds and can travel to other parts of the city or state , increasing the pollution in these areas also . Finally , any and every material that is used in the construction of the building gets amalgamated as particulate matter in the air during the demolition of the building . These include silica dust and other toxic fibres that can have long-term effects on lungs .
( ii ) Emissions from Construction Machines A lot of heavy-type vehicles used during construction — excavators , cranes , bulldozers , and cement mix trailers — run on diesel and emit large amounts of CO 2
, SO 2
, and CO into the air . These emissions are worse than our usual vehicles as they have no proper emission control systems and are a bigger concern to the environment .
( iii ) Large Amount of Energy Usage A large amount of energy is used at construction sites . The production of energy causes air pollution . The construction industry uses 40 % of the energy used in the world , as per a study by the US Green Building Council ( USGBC ).
( b ) Noise Pollution Noise pollution is simply the loud noises caused by heavy-duty machines , the collapse of heavy materials during demolition , and generators which also create a lot of noise . All of these combined make any construction and demolition site a hotspot for noise pollution .
( c ) Water Pollution Throwing toxic waste from construction into water bodies causes water pollution . Common liquids like cement , paint , and glue are some of the things that can be found in liquid waste at construction sites .
Protecting Workers Who Use Cleaning Chemicals ( US OSHA NIOSH )
Many factors influence whether a cleaning chemical will cause health problems . Some important factors to consider include :
● Chemical ingredients of the cleaning product ;
● How the cleaning product is being used or stored ;
● Ventilation in the area where the cleaning product is used ;
● Whether there are splashes and spills ;
● Whether the cleaning product comes in contact with the skin ; and
● Whether mists , vapours and / or gases are released .
Chemicals in some cleaning products can be irritating to the skin or can cause rashes . Cleaning products that contain corrosive chemicals can cause severe burns if splashed on the skin or in the eyes . Mists , vapours and / or gases from cleaning chemicals can irritate the eyes , nose , throat and lungs .
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