Construction Cost Estimating

      

Construction Dust ? A Threat on Your Life

Harmful construction dust imposes real health threats on the lives of the workers. Dust cannot be an ignoring factor in the construction sites, sniffing of which creates an array of health complications, ranging minor to major issues. Life threatening diseases like lung cancer, silicosis and more are the brutal result of breathing in the construction dust.

The dust-laden visual is a common look of a working site that is not avoidable in any terms. After conducting researches and studies on the issue, a few ways are innovated to control the air contamination. These ways will definitely helpful in cutting down the dust level in the air, but they are not giving a permanent solution of the issue. Experiments are going on and new technologies are created to testify the result of the dust control.

Construction dust, as the name defines, are specifically generated in the construction sites due to the extreme usages of heavy machines, improper tool applications and an excessive use of chemicals and other products. Three types of construction dust are mainly categorized depending on the level of the contamination.

? Silica dust ? the dust generated by the use of the materials having silica. Concrete, mortar and sandstone are very common and three materials are called as Respirable Crystalline Silica or RCS.
? Wood dust ? such contamination happens while working with the materials like softwood, hardwood and wood based products.
? Lower Toxicity Dust ? The materials that have less or no silica create lower toxicity dust. The materials like gypsum, plastered board, limestone and marble are responsible for this air pollution.

Health Risks from the construction Dust: Constructions dust cause severe, brutal diseases and some of which have life risks. Those who are working in the construction sites suffer from various health complications. Exposure to the dust creates diseases like:

? Lung cancer
? Silicosis
? Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
? Asthma

A recent study shows that the construction dust is responsible for the death of 500 employees every year for breathing in the silicone gas.

Risk Assessment: Risk assessment is an important factor to control the production of the construction dust. It is necessary to have a thorough understanding of when and how these gases are generated in order to take the right safety precaution. Below are a few factors that you need to keep in mind.

? Tasks ? the use of high-energy tools possibly encourages the chances of the dust forming. The tools like saws, grinders and grit blasters are a few names without which the construction work remains incomplete.
? Work area ? the confined place produces dust more. But that does not mean open spaces are free from the danger.
? Time ? If a work takes a longer time to complete, it produces more dust.

Risks controls: Actions should be taken to control the risks. A working-friendly environment is always a necessary factor, especially in the constructions field. Companies are taking safety measure at length to protect their lives.

Reduce the risks by following a few things ?

? Using the perfect size of building material reduces the need for cutting, resulting in less dust production.
? Using the less powerful tools like a block splitter instead of cut-off saw.
? Water dampen proves to be a great help for reducing the level of dust productions.
? Choose silica-free abrasives to control the dust management issue.
? Respiratory Protective Equipment helps to reduce the air contamination by dust to satisfied level.
? Educate staff about the safety measures available in the construction sites that they need to use for the self-protection.
? Review the dust control management after certain duration.

Construction dust is a major factor that deteriorates the lives of the workers. It causes severe health issues people are suffering from. Controlling the dusk is a necessary thing if you want to offer a clean environment to your employees.

Construction Dust ? A Threat on Your Life