Construction Occupational Health Safety

Question: Discuss about theConstruction Occupational Health Safety. Answer: Introduction Many working environments tend to concentrate much on the safety of workers but neglect their health. It often occurs as a result of some reasons such as the associated costs of surveillance and prevention as well as long-term nature of the ill-health condition of the workers among others. This paper presents a detailed discussion and analysis of dust as an occupational health. It focuses on the how dust causes ill health to workers as well as how it can be mitigated or controlled. According to Venables (2016), strategies adopted for controlling health risks amongst workers vary from one country to another depending on the nature of activities in the region. As a result, the paper also stipulates the context of the health risks as well as the country of reference concerning the evaluation of the condition. It then concludes by suggesting recommendations on how the condition can be solved so as to reduce the related health risks it poses to workers. Analysis and Discussion Brief Overview of Dusty Working Environments Airborne contaminants are said to occur as aerosols such as mists, smoke, fumes, and dust or in the gaseous form as vapors and gasses. Airborne dust tends to be of particular concern as they are associated with a classical widespread of lung diseases as an occupational health such as pneumoconiosis. It can as well lead to the systemic intoxications that can lead to poisoning mainly at higher exposure levels (Silcox 2016, p. 22). It is hence vital to examine and evaluate what is considered as a hazardous dust in a working environment. These include; Metallic dust such as cadmium and lead among other compounds Vegetable dust such as flour, cotton, tea, pollens, and wood Spores and molds Mineral dust from processing and extraction of minerals most of which contain silica that is known to be poisonous to the body organs Epidemiology of Dust- How it Cause Ill-Health As we take in oxygen mixed with dust particles, the major organ affected in the body is the lung which is responsible for taking atmospheric oxygen and releasing the used carbon dioxide. Even though the lungs have a defense mechanism that helps in removing the dust particles from the respiratory system function, Ratnasingam et al. (2016) points out that excess and continuous exposure can lead to disease infection. However, the respiratory response to the dust also depends on where the dust settles. For instance, irritant dust settling in the nose can lead to the inflammation of the mucous membrane, a condition known as rhinitis. In case the dust particles find their way into the larger air passages, they cause the inflammation of the bronchi (bronchitis) or trachea (tracheitis). The most significant reaction of the lungs tends to occur when the dust particles reach the deepest parts of the organs. Dust particles that evade elimination by the throat or nose settle in the air sacs towards the end of the airways. However, large dust particles can cause failure in the macrophage system as the particles as well as the dust-containing macrophages collect in the tissues of the lungs hence causing injury to the lungs. Kirkeskov, Agerby Hanskov, and Brauer (2016) point out that the seriousness of the injury caused to the lung depends on the amount and kind of dust particles. For instance, a macrophage that swallows a silica particle will instantly die but produce toxic substances that can cause a scar or fibrous tissues within the lungs resulting in fibrosis or silicosis disease. The disease infection of the lungs also depends on the type of the dust particle that affects the lungs as summarized in figure 1. Figure 1: A summary of the types of ill-health that affects the lungs Dust can also negatively impact dust-related diseases such as asthma, cancer, irritation and allergic alveolitis that occur at even lower exposure according to Bjerkan (2010, p. 446). In their study, Kirkeskov, Agerby Hanskov, and Brauer (2016) assert that while inhaling airborne dust at work, individuals suffer from the risk of getting this occupational dust related diseases. Both the developed and developing countries experience dust related diseases year after year resulting in either permanent or temporary disabilities. Apart from the ill-health, dust as well causes contamination of the products thus reducing their quality, cause fire explosions that can lead to loss of life and property, or even damage the environment as pointed out by Wiggans et al. (2016, p. 195). Mitigation and Control of Dust Related Complications In the process of avoiding respiratory infections as well as other health related complications caused by dust in the workplace, it is vital that hazardous substances be replaced with non-hazardous substances. In the case where the substitution is not possible, developed countries like the United States adopts the use of other engineering control methods such as the use of wet processes, use of vacuums to replace brooms and using a collection system to exhaust the air containing the dust before it is emitted into the atmosphere. Other countries such as India and Japan also adopt processes such as enclosing the dust-producing process under a negative air pressure. The government also advocates for the adoption of the good housekeeping, efficient transport and storage, and controlled disposal of dangerous wastes among the citizen. Downey (2012) also points out the use of personal protective equipment but should only be adopted as a last resort and not substitute a proper dust control. The method is mostly adopted in the developing countries where the engineering dust control methods are inadequate or not yet effective. Conclusion and Recommendation In his study, Downey (2012) points out that the most recommended method of controlling these ill-health dust conditions is education and awareness so that workers can understand the need of avoiding dusty working conditions. Personal measures among workers are hence vital to minimize exposure before resorting to respiratory protective equipment. For instance, work clothing should not collect any dust in the pockets while laundering of clothing having toxic contaminations should be done under controlled conditions. Work practices such as avoiding eating, smoking, or drinking in dusty environments need to be avoided. Lambs can also be used so as to make the dust visible so as to evaluate the areas of the workplace that require ventilation and containment strategies. Control mitigation approaches such as control of dust production at the source are necessary so as to avoid exposure. In it is thus worth concluding that dusty working environments are unhealthy for workers as it exposes them to respiratory complications as well as other health-related risks. It is hence vital that an organization ensures it adopts effective strategies that can reduce the exposure to dust to the workers. Such strategies are essential in improving the health safety of the working conditions. List of References Bjerkan, AM 2010, 'Health, environment, safety culture and climate - analysing the relationships to occupational accidents',Journal Of Risk Research, 13, 4, pp. 445-477, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 October 2016. Downey, J 2012, 'Maintaining a healthy workplace',Occupational Health, 64, 4, pp. 20-22, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 October 2016. Kirkeskov, L, Agerby Hanskov, D, Brauer, C 2016, 'Total and respirable dust exposures among carpenters and demolition workers during indoor work in Denmark',Journal Of Occupational Medicine Toxicology, 11, pp. 1-8, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 October 2016. Ratnasingam, J, Ramasamy, G, Ioras, F, Thanesegaran, G, Mutthiah, N 2016, 'Assessment of Dust Emission and Working Conditions in the Bamboo and Wooden Furniture Industries in Malaysia',Bioresources, 11, 1, pp. 1189-1201, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 October 2016. Silcox, S 2016, 'Impact of work on health',Occupational Health, 68, 8, pp. 22-23, SPORTDiscus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 October 2016. Venables, M 2016, 'Every breath you take',Works Management, 69, 2, pp. 34-36, Business Source Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 October 2016. Wiggans, R, Evans, G, Fishwick, D, Barber, C 2016, 'Asthma in furniture and wood processing workers: a systematic review',Occupational Medicine, 66, 3, pp. 193-201, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 October 2016.