Construction Industry Briefing: Issue 4 (June 07)

The following topics are covered in this issue: health statistics, asbestos, legislation, risk assessments and indoor air

1. Health Statistics

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work reported on ‘High speed work and working to tight deadlines’. This highlighted the high work pressure and working to tight deadlines in the construction industry. Further details are available below:

http://osha.europa.eu/riskob/paceofwork/summary_html/view?searchterm=construction

2. Asbestos

An article written by L Waterman has been published in the May issue of the ‘Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health'. It focuses on occupational health issues relating to the construction programme for the 2012 Olympic Games. You will be able to view the abstract on thePubmed web site by entering 'Waterman' and 'Olympic' in the search box:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

3. Legislation

The Construction Law Handbook is a legal reference work that is updated annually. It is aimed at professionals who need access to the most up-to-date construction law guidance. The 2007 edition has been published. The book is edited by Sir Vivian Ramsey QC and others (publisher: Thomas Telford; ISBN: 9780727734853), and includes chapters on construction health and safety law and environmental issues.

4. Risk assessments

OHS online reports that the voluntary US consensus standard ‘Reduction of musculoskeletal problems in construction (ANSI/ASSE A10.40-200x), which is aimed at reducing musculoskeletal disorders in construction workers, will be submitted to ANSI for final review:

http://www.ohsonline.com/articles/48397/

5. Indoor Air

An article in the June issue of Environmental Health Perspectives discusses the design of healthy buildings including the issue of good indoor air quality: ‘Elements that contribute to healthy building design’ by Vivian Loftness and others:

http://www.ehponline.org/members/2007/8988/8988.html



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


CONSTRUCTION BRIEFINGS ARCHIVE

Construction Briefing (March 2007)
Construction Briefing (April 2007)
Construction Briefing (May 2007)

 

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