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:
Occupational ill health refers to all health problems in the work environment. The term covers health problems workers bring to the workplace, as well as health issues caused or made worse by work. It covers serious and fatal diseases, physical effects on skin, breathing, hearing, mobility and functioning, and psychological effects on mental wellbeing. Effects may be immediate and visible, but are more often unseen and take a long time to develop, so vigilance and monitoring can be key to identifying problems. Some effects can be cured if diagnosed early; many can only be prevented from getting worse. Of course, some diseases are terminal. |
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
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Asbestos.
- CDM.
- Changing attitudes towards the mental wellbeing of early career Architectural Technology professionals.
- Construction Industry Advisory Committee.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
- Deleterious materials.
- Dust.
- Environmental health.
- Hand-arm vibration syndrome.
- Health and safety consultant.
- Health and safety executive.
- Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences definitive guideline.
- Health and safety.
- Health.
- Heat stress.
- ISO/PAS 45005 Guidance for working safely during COVID-19.
- Mental health.
- Occupational health risk management in construction. A guide to the key issues of occupational health provision
- Personal protective equipment.
- Reporting accidents and injuries on construction sites.
- Silica.
- Understanding mental health in the built environment.
- Vibration white finger.
- Wellbeing.
- Work at height regulations.
- Working in confined conditions.
Featured articles and news
Electrotechincal mentors wanted
TESP works with The Youth Group to form skill sharing network.
OpenBuilt supply chain technology in development
Big tech collaborates on platform for the built environment.
Concerns raised over Future Buildings Standard
Letter signed by 21 organisations sent to MHCLG.
The infrastructure planning process
A look at the Government's strategic approach.
Steps to help reduce the spread of infection inside buildings.
Urban exploration and construction
This social media-centred hobby can be both dangerous and illegal.
Millwork wall treatment with a long and illustrious history.
Weekly workplace noise estimator tool
HSE introduces cumulative exposure calculator.
The Edwardians and their houses.
Cut off from civilian life for over 900 years.
Can net zero and levelling-up align?
Gaining green support from the carbon giants.
Medieval passageways with spiritual, transport and economic purposes.
CIOB applauded for people management leadership
Organisation receives accreditation from Investors in People.
Receive the Designing Buildings newsletter
Click the button to subscribe.