Buildings And Construction Of Asbestos Construction

Hazardous materials can be silent killers, almost every household or workplace contains various harmful substances therefore it is important to have the basic knowledge of these contaminants, where to find them, and what to do if exposed. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral that is used in a number of different materials. Asbestos is not a concern if left undisturbed; however renovation, reconstruction or demolition can disturb these materials and release asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become trapped in lung tissue which increases the risk for several serious diseases. Asbestos is a well recognized health hazard and is highly regulated.

All employees of Robinson’s Excavation are valued members of the organization which is why safety must always come first. The construction industry is traditionally a hazardous work environment, but with vigilance, dedication, and training, the dangers can be significantly reduced. In order to provide the employees of Robinson’s Excavation with a safe work environment, all employees, regardless of status, are required to follow and enforce all safety procedures, which are not all inclusive. Additionally, the following protocol is in compliance with all state and federal OHSA regulations.

Despite being banned in Australia nowadays, asbestos can still be found in most of older construction, residential and commercial area as well as abandoned mining site. Studies show that the building workers, specifically the plumbers, gas fitters, carpenters and electricians the highest risk of getting mesothelioma, disease from asbestos fibres (Peto, J., Hodgson, J.T., Matthews, F.T., & Jacqueline, R., 1995). According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of mesotheliomas ' cases are increasing and expected to reach 18000 in recent. Though the asbestos is known as hazardous material, it can only affect the health if the asbestos fibres become airborne and are inhaled. The primary route for the asbestos to enter the body is through the inhalation processes of the contaminated air (Safework Australia, 2011). Unusually, small fibrous particles of

When employers carry out risk assessments, employers must consider the risk to employees of being struck by falling objects.

As many may know asbestos has been in issue all over the world for the last few decades, however asbestos is more common in a few specific industries. One of the industries where asbestos is a major issue is the construction industry because of how cheap, durable, and flexible it happens to be. Asbestos can be found in fireproofing products, insulation, drywall taping compounds, construction mastics, duct tape, construction felts, textured paints, spray on acoustic insulation, and vermiculite products to name a few. Trades that might be working around these products and are at risk include bricklayers, laborers, drywall hangers, insulation workers, home renovators, plumbers, masonry workers, and tile setters. There are also all different manufacturers

Hidden asbestos: Previous occupants of the building may have gotten rid of the most obvious source of asbestos, insulation, but may have overlooked other materials where asbestos might have been used. For example, if the building has ceiling tiles in use, they may contain asbestos. But with many construction materials, it can be impossible to tell positively whether or not asbestos was used unless specific tests are performed. If they do contain asbestos and you decide to have even minor renovations done at some point, you could be putting both you and your employees at risk if the proper procedures aren't followed. An asbestos inspection will confirm whether or not there is anything to worry about and can recommend steps you need to take in order to prevent or limit exposure.

Exposure to a constant and high level of asbestos can often times lead to cancer. Mesothelioma and lunch cancer are to of the most common asbestos cancers reported today. Gastrointestinal cancer and colorectal cancer have also been highly reported due to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a highly hazardous chemical that was commonly used in homes and buildings starting in the 1930's. Asbestos was used as insulation in walls as well as the backing for flooring. What makes this chemical so harmful to people is that when dry, the small shards of asbestos break off and become airborne which then creates the chance of inhaling the chemical. If asbestos is inhaled on a consistent basis, the shards attach onto the lunch tissue and in the breathing airway.

Insurance is required for all risk at construction work. There are a few types of insurance in construction.

Mcculloch (1986, p. 11) shows that asbestos is a human carcinogen to individuals living in industrialized states, if exposure occurs. The exposure of large numbers of people had been those who worked in buildings construction and the mines. However, asbestos exposure affects not only asbestos workers but also their families, users of asbestos products, as it was exposed to building materials and in heating and ventilating systems (Benarde, 1990). A number of exposed workers were from South Africa, because the protection of workers and communities was

On a construction site, workers are constantly climbing up and down ladders. As the construction progresses, the structure gets higher as well as wider. Ladders are often used to reach the upper heights during the construction phase before the interior is built including stairs. Unfortunately, falls from a ladder or scaffolding is one of the biggest risks and injuries a construction worker will face. The ladder can slip, shift, break or slide out from under you causing you to fall from dangerous heights.

According to a poll taken by Time Magazine (2016), construction workers have the twelfth uppermost dangerous jobs in America. (Johnson, 2016). Construction workers come to their job, with the assumption that they are safe and can perform their job with ease. They do not anticipate getting hurt on the job, but often are subject to injuries or even fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health act states that employees have the right to a safe work environment, and must ensure that safety measures are provided for these employees. (OSHA.gov, 2016).

Asbestos is a very hazardous material. Despite the banning of its use in the building industry, a lot of the older buildings might still have features made using Asbestos. The toxicity of this material that was once considered as the revolutionary building material is so high that you cannot afford to even have traces of it in your premises.

Asbestos has been proved to be reliable in construction as adhesives, resistance to heat, high tensile strength, and budget safe. There are many different types of asbestos like, amphibole and chrysotile. The most common type is chrysotile, or white asbestos and the chemical formula is Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4. This chemical is often used all throughout schools making children chief victims. Though reliable as structural support, asbestos has been proved to be a ticking time-bomb. “During the 1980s asbestos would be exposed to 35% of school children.” The problem is the asbestos flake off and become airborne in schools where teachers and students are vulnerable.

Many times, risks faced by contractors exist at no fault of their own. That is, in some cases the contractor is bound by a design that places specific hazards on the construction site. Designers who are cognizant of and responsive to their effort on construction safety would aid in making jobsites safer for construction workers (Gambatese et al, 1997). Situations such as these led the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to create a safe design concept, prevention through design. Prevention

According to OSHA, there are 4 common types of struck-by hazards in construction; struck by falling object, struck by flying object, struck by swinging object, and struck by rolling object Each of these is a related potential hazard involved in the hoisting of construction material on the project site. As stated in the OSHA Training Institute’s Construction Focus Four: Struck-By Hazards Instructor Guide, “Occupational fatalities caused by struck-by hazards are a serious concern. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report titled “Manner in which fatal injuries occurred, 2009” preliminary data, the category of “Contact with objects and equipment is 17% of the total 4,340 fatal work injuries. Of that 17% the sub-category of “Struck-by object” was 10% (more than half).” As well, according to the BLS, in 2008 34% of crane related deaths were caused by struck-by incidents, with 14% of the struck by incidents involving materials being hoisted by a crane. See the table from the OSHA Training Institute’s Construction Focus Four: Struck-By