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Health Risks in Construction: Substances, Alcohol, Asbestos

This learning outcome explores general health risks in the construction environment, including hazardous substances, alcohol and drug use, safe storage of chemicals and flammable materials, personal hygiene, and dealing with asbestos.

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Health Risks in Construction: Substances, Alcohol, Asbestos

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  1. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • This learning outcome: • lists general health risks • describes substances hazardous to health and handling precautions • examines the consequences of alcohol and drug use in the workplace • describes safe storage of chemicals and flammable material • looks at personal hygiene in the construction environment • looks at dealing with asbestos

  2. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.1 Substances hazardous to health (1) • Which substances are hazardous to health? • Almost all chemical substances carry some health risk • These include: • diesel and petrol • paint • thinners • adhesives • mastic • cement

  3. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.1 Substances hazardous to health (2) • COSHH, 2002 • The law that governs the use of substances in the workplace is • Main requirements: • establish what the health hazards are • carry out a risk assessment for use and storage of substance • provide safety equipment and control measures • provide information and training for employees • provide health monitoring where necessary • plan for emergencies Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

  4. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.2 General health hazards and risks • Inadequate clothing • skin injuries; chemical spills, welding sparks • ill health due to weather conditions • Noise • permanent and temporary loss of hearing • Vibration • white finger • Dust • respiratory problems • skin disease • Moving plant • crush injuries • broken bones, internal injuries • Asbestos • lung disease

  5. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.3 Drugs and alcohol on site • Drugs and alcohol on site can lead to accidents • When working on a construction site, you need to be: • alert • able to function • able to think straight • aware of the safety of others • Working while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can cause: • loss of balance • traffic and machinery accidents, if you are driving or operating plant • loss of concentration • unconsciousness while working • injury to others

  6. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.4 Storing chemicals and flammable substances • Only store the minimum you need • Store in designated, well-ventilated areas. These should be: • away from the immediate work area • separate from other substances • in specially designed storage cabinets • accessible only to those authorised to use the products • away from all emergency escape routes

  7. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.5 Wash your hands! • Washing your hands before eating or before leaving work helps prevent: • general sickness • Weil’s disease • contamination from soil • chemicals being absorbed through your skin • burning from alkaline products

  8. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.6 Asbestos (1) • Asbestos is: • a building material • fireproof and used to construct: • roofs • fire walls • flameproof cladding • available in three types • chrysotile • crocidolite • amosite • ASBESTOS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH

  9. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.6 Asbestos (2) • The health hazards associated with asbestos are: • Mesothelioma • a cancer of the lining of the lungs • Lung cancer • Asbestosis • scarring of your lungs • Pleural thickening • thickening of the wall between your lungs and your ribcage tumour growing in your lungs

  10. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH 4.6 Asbestos (3) If you discover asbestos in a building you should: stop work straight away report it to your supervisor put up warning signs create an Asbestos Management Plan call in a HSE-licenced contractor to deal with the problem Useful link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/em1.pdf

  11. BTEC Level 1 Award Health and Safety in a Construction EnvironmentLearning Outcome 4: RISKS TO HEALTH • 4.8 PPE worn for handling hazardous materials • It is better not to handle hazardous substances at all or to leave to a specialist. • If there is no other way of carrying out a job, then the personal protective equipment mustbe worn. This includes: • protective gloves • respirator • goggles, or full-face protection • overalls, designed to protect your skin from the substance you are handling

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