CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT, SUBSTANCES

1. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY – IV By
AVINASH KUMAR GUPTA
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Chemical Substances
•adhesive
•cleaning agents for brick work/ stone work
•decorative/ protective treatments for timber,
metals,
•floor treatments fungicides,
• cements & grouts insultants, sealants,
• paints solvents.
.

2. Chemicals

3. Chemicals
• chemicals are hazardous, fire explosion, toxic,
poison.
• dizziness, headache
• lung diseases.
• dermatitis.
• damage to skin & eyes.

4. Chemicals
ENTRY INTO BODY
• Inhaling or breathing in
• Irritation to nose and throat
• May penetrate to lungs and blood stream
• Dust may cause lung disease
• Quartz and asbestos dust destroys the lung
tissue
• Tuberculosis and cancer

5. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY - IV
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
INGESTION & SWALLOWING
– Handle chemicals (Paints)
– eating & smoking without washing hands
– toxic vapors contaminate cups, plates or eating
utensils.
– eating meals at the work site.
ABSORPTION THROUGH SKIN
– some solvents absorbed through skin - goes to
blood stream – brain & lever.
– acids/ alkaline damages skin & eyes.

6. INHALATION

7. SWALLOWING

8. ABSORPTION

9. Chemicals
• Point to remember:
• Some chemical hazards are easy to see
or smell.
• However, there are also chemicals that you
cannot see or smell,and which therefore
present an extremedanger.

10. Chemicals

11. Chemicals

12. Chemicals

13. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY - IV
WORKING ENVIRONMENT
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
– substitute the chemical with a harmless or less
hazardous one.
– enclose the process using chemica,l exhaust
ventilation.
– use PPE
– keep containers in a separate store.
– put lable on the container.
– follow the instructions on label.

14. • while opening a container, hold a rag over
the caps or lid, prevent spurt up.
• Avoid breathing in any fumes from chemicals.
• good ventilation
• leave the area on dizziness.
• impermeable clothing
• Use smallest quantity
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
chemicals

15. PREVENTIVE MEASURES
– eye protection on transferring chemicals
– wash before eating
– skin – rinse with plenty of water
– flush eyes with water.
– seek medical alternation
– never use solvent to remove paint or grease from
your skin

16. Read label
Every chemical
used on site should
have
a label and
sufficient
information to
ensure its safe use

17. An example of a chemical safety data
sheet, providing essential safety and
health information

18. HIGHILY INFLAMMABLE CHEMICALS
– study the label & inspections
– flammable liquids give off vabour.Never allow
smoking in the area.
– keep containers in store till required.
– treat empty drums with care
– transferring in open air (large to small container)
– funnels & spouts to prevent spillage.
– ensure supply of fresh air in enclosed area (open
doors & windows).

19. Chemical spillage soaked up with dry
sand

20. HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES
CEMENT
– cement mixes – cause of skin diseases.
– irritant & allergic dermatitis.
– cement burns or ulceration of skin.
Precautions.
– a void breathing in cement dust.
– avoid skin contact by wearing long sleeved clothing full
length trousers, rubber boots & gloves.
– Protect eyes, rinse with water.
– clean off clothing or boots after work.
– Asbestos dust cause lung damage & cancer.

21. ASBESTOS
It is found –
– thermal insulation of boilers
– fire protection of steel work
– thermal & acoustic treatment of building.
– Fire protection of doors
– Cladding on walls
– partitions
– ceiling tiles
– corrugated sheets
– gutter/ down pipes

22. ASBESTOS
• PRECAUTIONS
– while cutting AC sheets use hand tools to avoid
dust.
– remove asbestos material before major
demolition work
– wet method of removal
– disposal at approved waste disposal site
– separating asbestos work area from other
general work.
– Dust you cannot see is more dangerous than
the dust your eyes see.

23. LEAD
It is found
• electricity cables
• pies, gutters and old lead sheet
roods
• motor fuels, storage tanks

24. LEAD
RISKS
• risk from inhaling dust/ ----- by burning/
cutting, welding, grinding, spray painting of
leaded paints
• readily absorbed through skin
• causes constipation, abdominal pain, anemic,
weak mussels and kidney damage
• affects brain, fits, arms impaired intellect
precautions (lead)

25. LEAD
PREVENTION OF RISKS
• wash your hand before eating, don’t smoke
with lead in your hand
• protective clothing and respiratory protective
equipment
• work clothing on job and do not mix with
street clothing.

26. Remember
Point to remember:
• Wash thoroughly and if possible
• change out of work clothing before you
leave the site, otherwise you may be taking
dangerous dust and dirt into your

27. AIDS
• danger exists due to cut or wounded by
infected needles, razor blades found during
construction work.
• wear heavy duty gloves & overalls

28. NOISE & VIBRATION
• permanent damage to hearing
• piling, tunneling
NOISE CONTROL
• exhaust outlets to be provided with silencers/
mufflers
• compressor motors cover closed
• concrete breaker mufflers and similar devices
securily fitted
• machinery penal are secured and do not rattle
• provide sound insulating screens

29. NOISE AND VIBRATION
HEARING PROTECTION
• measure noise levels
• > 85-90 db is injurious
• use ear muffs/ ear plugs
• keep hearing protection clean
• insert ear plug with clear hands

30. NOISE And VIBRATION
VIBRATION
• injury to muscles, joints and affect blood
circulation white finger disease
• wear gloves
LIGHTING
adequate lighting
shafts, stair ways

31. Compressor noise control – keep covers
closed, use muffler on pneumatic
hammer and wear hearing protectors

32. HOT WEATHER
• high temp, humidity cause fatigue
• heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat stroke
PREVENTION
• sufficient work breaks
• rest areas away from work stations
• supply clean, cool drinking water, drink
often in small quantities
• keep work clothes clean

33. HOT WEATHER
• KEEP COOL
– keep out from direct sunlight
– avoid quick movements
– air circulation
– avoid tight clothes
– head protection
– cool drinks
– add salt to food
– shady place to rest

34. COLD WEATHER
• below 150
C, less of concentration and coordination – white finger
syndrome while working with vibrating tools
• frostbite/ hypothermia
• wind affect temp at 100
C & wind speed 32km/hour body temp
falls to freezing ‘chill facts’
• ‘immersion foot’ if feet are not kept dry
–

35. COLD WEATHER
• prefer clothing – allow moisture to escape
avoid bulky cloths
• hands and feet one susceptible to cold
• hot meals & drinks
• drying clothing facilities

36. REMEMBER
• If you have to shout to make yourself heard by
someone about 1 m away, there is a noise problem
requiring action.
• When moving from a very bright area to shaded
area, give your eyes time to adjust.
• the urine you pass is less than usual and strong and
dark in colour, you are not drinking enough water to
replace loss through perspiration.
• If someone appears to be suffering from immersion
foot or hypothermia, move him or her into a warm
place and allow slow recovery. Sudden warming may
increase the injury