INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
Symptoms may include burning eyes , sore throat , coughing , trouble breathing and wheezing . Chemicals in some cleaning products can cause asthma or trigger asthma attacks . Some cleaning products contain hazardous chemicals that can enter the body through skin contact or from breathing gases into the lungs . Mixing cleaning products that contain bleach and ammonia can cause severe lung damage or death .
Choosing Safer Cleaning Chemicals
The Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) defines cleaners , sanitisers and disinfectants as follows :
● Cleaners remove dirt through wiping , scrubbing or mopping .
● Sanitisers contain chemicals that reduce but do not necessarily eliminate , microorganisms such as bacteria , viruses and mould from surfaces . Public health codes may require cleaning with the use of sanitisers in certain areas , like toilets and food preparation areas .
● Disinfectants contain chemicals that destroy or inactivate micro-organisms that cause infections . Disinfectants are critical for infection control in hospitals and other healthcare settings .
Cleaners , sanitisers and disinfectants serve different purposes , and it is important to choose the least hazardous cleaning chemical that will accomplish the task at hand . Before purchasing cleaning products , determine whether or not sanitising or disinfecting is necessary . If sanitising or disinfecting is not required , then choose a cleaner . In general , disinfectants and sanitisers are more hazardous than cleaners . If sanitising or disinfecting is necessary , be sure that the product purchased is effective for the micro-organisms being targeted . EPA regulates sanitisers and disinfectants ( termed “ antimicrobial pesticides ”).
Hong Kong Policy on Construction Water Quality ( Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department )
As construction activities are land-based , direct impacts on water bodies will not arise . Nevertheless , construction activities at the works area may generate surface run-off which may impact adversely water quality if not properly controlled or mitigated . Recommendations for mitigation measures have been made , where necessary , to reduce the identified water quality impacts to an acceptable level .
Evaluation of Potential Water Quality Impacts
Potential sources of water quality impact associated with construction activities include construction site runoff and drainage , general construction activities and sewage effluent produced by the on-site workforce .
( a ) Construction Runoff and Drainage During site clearance , runoff and drainage from the works area would be the main sources of potential water quality impact . Site runoff and drainage may contain increased loads of suspended solids and contaminants . Potential sources of pollution from site drainage include :
● runoff and erosion from exposed soil surfaces , earth working areas and stockpiles ;
● release of grouting and cement materials with rain wash ;
● wash water from dust suppression sprays ; and
● fuel and lubricants from maintenance of construction vehicles and mechanical equipment . Site runoff and drainage from the works area on the upper hillslope , if uncontrolled , could enter the drainage culvert .
As a good site practice , mitigation measures should be implemented to control site runoff and drainage from the works area and to prevent runoff and drainage water with high levels of suspended solids from entering the drainage culvert . With the implementation of adequate construction site drainage and provision of sediment removal facilities , it is anticipated that unacceptable water quality impacts will not arise . The construction phase discharge will be collected by the temporary drainage system installed by the Contractor and then treated or de-silted on-site before discharge to the licensed point .
78 VOL 96 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2023