Occupational health in the construction industry

The term ‘health’ has evolved over time from referring simply to the body's ability to function, to include physical, mental and social wellbeing.

According to ‘Occupational health risk management in construction. A guide to the key issues of occupational health provision’ published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in November 2015:

The guide was published due to a “...widespread misunderstanding of what ‘occupational health’ means in the construction sector and the employers’ misguided perception that health is more difficult to manage than safety”.

It suggests that construction workers are at least 100 times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their work than they are from a fatal accident. It proposes that managing workplace health helps employers to retain experienced and skilled workers, and it helps employees maintain productive employment.

Key occupational health risks include:

• Exposure to asbestos, dusts including silica and lead.
• Chemicals, sunlight, diesel engine exhaust emissions.
• Frequent loud noise.
• Frequent or excessive use of vibrating tools.
• Frequent or excessive manual handling of loads.
• Stress and fatigue.

The guide proposes a risk management cycle that includes:

• Identification of hazards.
• Assessment of risks.
• Selection of controls.
• Implementation and recording of findings.
• Monitoring and review.

Occupational hygiene is the professional discipline of recognising, evaluating and controlling risks to health in the workplace to prevent ill health.

For more information see: http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/iacs/coniac/coniac-oh-guidance.pdf

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