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Construction Industry Briefing: Issue 16 (September 08)

The following topics are covered in this issue: Legislation, Risk Assessments, Noise, Inhaled Particles, and Ergonomics

1. Legislation

Free leaflets relating to the construction industry including INDG 411 ‘Want construction work done safely? A quick guide for clients on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007' can be downloaded from the HSE web site at…

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/conindex.htm

2. Risk Assessments

A paper entitled 'Hydration status and physiological workload of UAE construction workers in a prospective longitudinal observational study' has been published online in the 'Journal of Occupational Medicine'. The objective of the study was to 'investigate the physiological response of construction workers labouring in thermally stressful environments in the UAE using Thermal Work limit (TWL) as a method of environmental risk assessment'. The article can be downloaded from...

http://www.occup-med.com/content/pdf/1745-6673-3-21.pdf

3. Noise

An article entitled ‘How bad is construction noise and what can be done about it?' has been published recently in 'Audiology Online'. The author notes that 'with the reduction in acute hazards on construction sites, the focus of safety and health efforts has shifted towards developing a better understanding of the risk of chronic occupational illnesses of ten associated with construction, including noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The full article is available at...

http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/article_detail.asp?article_id=2112

4. Inhaled Particles

A letter in OEM discusses ‘Diesel particulate exposure and diabetes among workers in the Ontario construction trades'. The authors note that 'Heavy equipment operators (HEOs) are occupationally exposed to DEP [diesel exhaust particulate]'. The letter can be viewed at...

http://oem.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/65/3/215.pdf

5. Ergonomics

Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms for construction workers were analysed in a recent paper published in the 'Journal of Civil Engineering and Management'. The paper investigated 'frequency and continuality of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms for construction workers' and found that the 'musculoskeletal symptom is common among most construction workers, practically [sic] in their upper extremities and lower back'. The full text of the paper is available at...

http://www.jcem.vgtu.lt/upload/civil_zurn/fung%20et%20al.pdf

 

If you would like us to feature any specific construction occupational health issue then let us know.

CONSTRUCTION BRIEFINGS ARCHIVE