The document discusses chemical and biological hazards in construction, including types of chemicals, exposure routes, and the health risks associated with them. It also covers regulations and guidelines for workplace safety, such as OSHA standards and first aid measures for chemical exposure. Protective measures and training for employees are emphasized to mitigate risks and ensure safety in hazardous environments.

1. Atiqa Khan
2019-MS-CM-15
Abdul Qadir Jilani
2018-MS-CM-30
Shi Wenchao
2018-MS-CM-22
Our Team

4. A chemical hazard is a type of occupational hazard caused
by exposure to chemicals in the workplace.
 Acute or Chronic diseases if exposed for a longer period of time or if
proper precautionary measures are not taken.
 Long-term exposure to chemicals have been shown to increase risk of
diseases such as:
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
Definition Including
Benzene(Industrial waste
& smoking),
Formaldehyde(Fertilizer,
glues & paper)
Liquids & Solvents
Including gases such
as Chlorine, SO2, NO,
Ammonia
Vapors & Fumes
Including a
flash point at or above
100ºF such as solvents,
thinners, cleaners,
adhesives, paints, waxes
and polishes
Flammable
Materials
Types

5. Chemical Hazards
Chemicals can exist in the form of:
• Dusts, fumes, fibers (solids)
• Liquids, mists
• Gases, vapors
Chemicals are found in variety of products used at construction sites. Workers may also be
exposed to chemicals generated during construction activities.
• Asbestos
• Lead
• Silica
• Cadmium
• Carbon monoxide
• Welding fumes
• Spray paints
• Cutting oil mists
• Solvents
Examples of
chemical
hazards found
in construction
work:

6. Routes to Exposure
Ingestion
Chemicals may be swallowed
accidentally if food, hands, or
cigarettes are contaminated.
Injection
It can occur when a sharp
object (e.g., needle) punctures
the skin and injects a chemical
(or virus) directly into the
bloodstream.
Inhalation from
fumes
Breathing of contaminated air is
the most common way that
chemicals enter the body.
Absorption
Some chemicals, when contacted,
can pass through the skin into
the blood stream. The eyes may
also be a route of entry.

7. ASBESTOS
Asbestos pipe insulation
Construction workers may be exposed to asbestos during
demolition or remodeling of older buildings. Asbestos
removal can only be done by specially trained asbestos
workers.
Asbestos exposure can cause breathing problems, lung
cancer and cancer of the lung lining many years after
exposure.

8. WELDING FUMES
Welding fumes contain a variety of
chemicals depending on what is
being welded on, chemical makeup
of welding rods, fluxes and
shielding gases.
Generally, welding in confined
spaces or welding on stainless steel
which generates hexavalent
chromium, are the most hazardous
welding activities. Welding on a stainless steel
tank
Welding in a confined
space

9. SOLVENTS
A variety of solvents with varying degrees of toxicity are
used in construction. They are in paints, glues, epoxies
and other products.
Solvents can:
• Irritate your eyes, nose or throat,
• Make you dizzy, high, sleepy, give you a headache or cause
you to pass out,
• Affect your judgment or coordination,
• Cause internal damage to your body,
• Dry out or irritate your skin.

10. SILICA
Silica or quartz dust exposure is very common in construction from drilling, cutting or
grinding on concrete, sandblasting, rock drilling or in masonry work. Exposure causes
lung scarring and lung disease over time.
Brick cutting Concrete cuttingBlowing concrete dust with
compressed air

11. LEAD
Construction workers can be exposed to lead on bridge repair work, lead
paint removal on metal structures or buildings or demolition of old buildings
with lead paint, or using lead solder.
Lead is highly toxic and can cause severe, long term health problems.
Lead in Bridge repair workLead in Paint work

12. CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN CONFINED SPACES
Carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide,
welding fumes and solvent vapors are
typical confined space chemical hazards.
• In some confined spaces, oxygen
deficiency will cause the person entering
to instantly collapse.
• Co-workers who attempt rescue may die
in confined spaces due to chemical
contamination.

13. Chemicals that are extremely toxic to aquatic life;
affect public health; damage the ozone layer
Environmental Toxic
RELEVANT SYMBOLS
Chemicals that can ignite
• Self-reactive
• Pyrophoric self-heating
• Emits flammable gas
• Organic peroxides
Flammable
Damages metals & living tissues on contact
• Skin corrosion
• Serious damage to eyes
• Corrosive to metals
Corrosives
Chemicals that may cause cancer,
allergy, asthma & adversely
affect organs
Serious health hazard
Chemicals that can escape at
velocity of missile, causing
explosion, harming health
Gas under pressure
Chemicals that are harmful on exposure,
if swallowed, inhaled; cause skin
irritation & allergies
Harmful/Irritant
Chemicals that can support & intensify
combustion causing rapid fire on contact
Oxidizers
Chemicals that are fatal or toxic to
health
Acute toxicity
Chemicals that can detonate
• Explosives
• Self-reactive
• Organic Peroxide
Explosives

14. OSHA’s Guidelines
Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import, and prepare
labels and safety data sheets to convey the hazard information to their downstream customers.
All employers with hazardous chemicals in their workplaces must have labels and safety data sheets for their exposed workers, and
train them to handle the chemicals appropriately. The training for employees must also include information on the hazards of the
chemicals in their work area and the measures to be used to protect themselves.
OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS)
Every employer who analyses a sample of any material to determine whether it contains asbestos shall ensure that he meets criteria
equivalent to those set out in the paragraphs of ISO 17025 which cover organisation, quality systems, control of records, personnel,
accommodation and environmental conditions, test and calibration methods, method validation, equipment, handling of test and
calibration items, and reporting results.
Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations
It states general requirements imposed on employers to protect employees and other persons from the hazards of substances used at
work by risk assessment, control of exposure, health surveillance and incident planning. There are also duties on employees' to take
care of their own exposure to hazardous substances and prohibitions on the import of certain substances into the European Economic
Area.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)
OSHA sets enforceable permissible exposure limits (PELs) to protect workers against the health effects of exposure to hazardous
substances, including limits on the airborne concentrations of hazardous chemicals in the air. Most OSHA PELs are 8-hour time-
weighted averages (TWA), although there are also Ceiling and Peak limits, and many chemicals include a skin designation to warn
against skin contact.
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).

16. First Aid Treatment
Providing express first aid to the victim
is meant to mitigate the toxic
substance as fast as possible, while
seeking medical assistance,
maintaining breathing, blood
circulation and other vital signs.

17. To correctly provide first aid, one should:
1. Make sure that there is no other risk - for
you or the victim - due to administering first
aid.
2. If possible:
• Identify the poison.
• Identify the dosage or the intake of
such substance.
• Verify the duration (since how long has
the victim taken it).
• The Victim’s age and weight.

18. Contd..
3. Observe the symptoms (acute or mild).
4. If the victim vomits, keep the vomited
material (for test purposes by the concerned
authorities).
5. Call the Poison Control or hospital and get
the first aid advice.
6. Call the ambulance or medical assistance, or
carry the victim to the nearest hospital.
7. If the victim is unconscious: Check his breath
and provide C.P.R if needed.

19. Poisonous Contamination of Skin
First Aid in cases of Chemical Poisoning:
1. Check breath and provide C.P.R if
needed.
2. Give cold milk and egg white.
3. Give strong pain reliever.
4. Do not force victim to vomit.
5. No gastric lavage.
6. No acids, such as vinegar and lime juice
in case of acid poisoning.
7. Take victim immediately to hospital.

20. Inhalation Poisoning:
1. Take the victim immediately to clean air, while removing
any tight clothes and untying the necktie.
2. Provide rescue breaths in case of respiratory failure of
difficulty after removing anything inside the mouth as
follows:
a) Titling the head back to open the airway, while
closing the nose trills with two fingers, taking a
deep breath, blowing air into the victim’s lungs
through the mouth; then watching the victim’s chest
rise accordingly.
b) Allow the victim to exhale which watching his chest
fall.
c) Repeat same procedure till the victim breathes
normally.
3. Warm up victim if sign of cold or chill is found.
4. Calm down the victim if conscious.
5. Take patient immediately to hospital.

21. Eye Poisoning:
1. Open eyelids and wash with running
water (at low pressure) for at least 10
minutes.
2. No eye drops.
3. Take patient immediately to hospital.

22. REQUIREMENTS OF FOOD AND DRINKING WATER
• Portable containers
• Pure water
• Clearly marked glasses
• Common drinking cups to be avoided
• Single service cups
• Food in designated areas only
• Hygienic food

24. Any risk that comes from the biosphere – people, plants, and animals can be considered biological
hazards.
Some Examples of Biological Hazards are:
• Mold and Fungi
• Blood and Body Fluids
• Sewage
• Airborne pathogens
• Stinging insects
• Harmful plants
• Animal and Bird Droppings
Definition
Solid
Waste
Liquid
Waste
Sharp
Waste
Pathol
ogical
Waste
Microbio
logical
Waste
Any non-sharp
material that contacts
human or animal
specimens.
It is any medical
device that could be
infectious and is sharp
enough to puncture
the skin.
Liquid medical waste
is body fluids or blood
that may contain an
infectious agent.
Microbiological waste
contains infectious agents,
microorganisms, and
biologicals and is most
common in laboratories.
Pathological waste includes
any removed animal or
human organs, tissues, and
body parts.

25. BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION
Exposure may occur during demolition, renovation, sewer work, work on air
handling systems, or other construction work from contact with
contaminated or disease-carrying sources. i.e.
• Soil
• Water
• Insects (mosquitoes, ticks)
• Bird or bat droppings
• Animals
• Structures
Pigeon droppings in abandoned
building

26. RADIATION
• Alpha particles
• Beta particles
• Gamma rays
• X-Rays
Symbol for
Radiation

27. BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
• Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
• Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV)
Symbol for
Bloodborne Pathogen

28. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION (UV)
Bad Work Practice – not wearing a
shirt will result in skin damage.
Bad Work Practice – welder
unprotected from ultraviolet radiation.

29. Drugs and Alcohol
• Any persons caught in possession of or
under the influence of drugs or alcohol will
be removed from site
• If you are on drugs for any medical reason,
please inform your supervisor at once

30. Vibration
• Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and
Vibration White Finger (VWF) are very
debilitating
• You need to protect yourself from excessive
usage of vibrating tools such as breakers
and drills etc

31. POISONOUS PLANTS
Poison Ivy Poison Oak
Poison Sumac

32. POISONOUS & INFECTIOUS ANIMALS
Rodents
Dogs (Rabies)
Snakes

33. PREVENTION METHODS
Gloves
Shoe Covers
Sterilization
Surgical masks
N95 or higher level respirators
Powered Air Purifying Respirator
Air-supplying respirators
Personal hygiene
Goggles/Face shields
Protective clothing
CONTROL
MEASURES Engineering controls such as
improvement of ventilation, partial
isolation of the contamination source,
installation of negative pressure and
separate ventilation and air
conditioning system and the use of
ultraviolet lamps can help contain the
spread of contaminants.
Elimination of the source of contamination
is fundamental to the prevention and
control of biological hazards. Washing
hands with liquid soap is the simplest and
most basic method to avoid infection.
However, it is often neglected.

34. OSHA’s Guidelines
Development of an Exposure Control Plan. A written program (by the employer) that outlines
the protective measures an employer will take to minimize employee exposure to blood and
other biohazardous waste.
Personal protective equipment (PPE). Those exposed to blood or biological fluids should wear
PPE such as gloves, booties, full-body suits, and respirators.
Training for employees. All employees with occupational exposure to biohazardous waste
should receive initial and annual training.
Communication of biohazardous materials to employees. A biohazard warning label must be
included on every bag or container of medical waste.
Mandatory Hepatitis B vaccinations. The employer is responsible for the cost of Hepatitis B
vaccinations for employees exposed to biohazardous waste.
OSHA's
Blood borne
Pathogens
Standard

35. By Phil Hughes
Ed Ferrett
Introduction To Health & Safety At Work
- 3rd Edition
Safety & Health Topics – OSHA biohazardous waste
standards
Occupational Safety & Health Organization
Safety & Health Topics – Chemical Hazards & Toxic
Substances
Occupational Safety & Health Organization
3
2
1

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