Introduction to Occupational Hygiene in Construction

Because the working environment is constantly changing in an unanticipated and dramatic way, the construction business presents special obstacles. Because of the nature of the sector, realistic solutions that consistently reach workers at a fundamental level are required. Moreover, Companies and Individuals Conducting a Business Undertaking (PCBU) are required by law to protect the health and safety of workers, subcontractors, and visitors at their workplace. In this regard, occupational hygiene is a significant topic.

The process of evaluating, identifying, and quantifying health and safety risks at work is often known as occupational health. In essence, occupational hygiene is about planning ahead. It is the science and art of preventing long-term health problems at work by identifying potential hazards before they become serious.

In this guide, we will highlight the concept of occupational hygiene, how it can be implemented and practised in the construction workplace to ensure maximum security.

What is occupational hygiene?

The discipline of predicting, identifying, assessing, and managing health risks in the workplace with the goal of preserving the health and welfare of employees as well as the community at large is known as occupational hygiene. It is, in simple terms, the process of assessing and calculating health and safety risks at work and putting policies or controls in place to reduce the possibility of injury to workers and site visitors.

By designing out the risks, implementing engineering controls to minimise exposure, utilising administrative procedures to minimise risk, choosing the right PPE, or a combination of these, occupational hygienists help organisations in controlling the risks.

How does occupational hygiene help businesses?

Occupational health and hygiene can boost a company's brand, show social responsibility, improve relations with staff members, and yield a substantial return on investment. However, it must also be essential to the organisation's mission and objectives.

So, in short, good occupational hygiene = good business.

Why occupational hygiene is very important?

Comprehending occupational hygiene is essential because it transforms a workplace's viewpoint from reactive to proactive. Sometimes, through naked eyes, the job might seem perfectly safe, but Invisible chemical vapours or excessive vibration from machines can create major long-term health problems.

A hygienist's job requires a thorough understanding of chemistry, physics, toxicology, and even human biology in order to distinguish between occupational activities and possible health effects. In the end, it's about ensuring that each employee can return home at the end of their shift in the same state of health as when they started.

It is important in three ways-

• It prevents chronic conditions such as respiratory diseases, skin cancer and hearing loss.
• It can offer economic benefits by reducing workers’ compensation costs and lowering insurance premiums.
• It helps your business stay compliant with legal requirements and reduces your liability risks.

What is an occupational hygienist (OH)?

Occupational Hygiene is a specialist job in health and safety. Occupational hygienists (OHs) frequently provide advice to companies whose employees perform "high-risk" occupations. OH, expertise is particularly useful in construction, mining, and manufacturing workplaces where hazardous dusts and chemicals are used.

The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists states that, "Occupational hygienists utilise science and technology to calculate worker exposures, assess worker risks, and establish controls to improve the overall workplace environment."

What does an occupational hygienist do?

There are numerous health dangers in the workplace that might include handling chemical or coal dust, loud noise, arm or full body vibration from machines and many more. Workers are also at serious danger from climate change-related problems like heat stress from high ambient temperatures, bushfires, and mould from floods.

Workers may be exposed to health risks in a variety of ways. To guarantee the ongoing health of every employee, occupational hygienists can evaluate the risks and assist in risk management.

What are the three main components of occupational hygiene?

The topic of occupational hygiene encompasses three basic areas of threat kinds: chemical, physical and biological. "Psychosocial hazards" is a fourth category that has been highlighted occasionally in recent years. These are the risks that could have an impact on employees' mental health. However, usually, Occupational Hygiene covers the three elements mentioned, while psychosocial hazards are more significant for a WHS risk assessment.

1. Chemical

Chemical risks are those that can injure the body when exposed to chemicals. These may consist of liquids, gases, vapours, and dust. Chemical risks are assessed by using a variety of techniques, such as wipe sampling, air sampling, and human exposure monitoring. When analysing chemical risks, it is vital to consider both acute and chronic exposure. While chronic exposure can result in long-term health problems like cancer, respiratory conditions, and neurological abnormalities, acute exposure can cause harm right away.

2. Biological

Biological dangers are those that can damage the body by exposing it to microorganisms like fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Toxic responses, allergies, and infections are a few examples. The route of exposure—such as ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation - must be considered when evaluating biological hazards. It is also crucial to evaluate the susceptibility of the individual, such as individuals with compromised immune systems or allergies.

3. Physical

Physical risks are those that have the potential to injure the body. Noise, vibration, radiation, severe temperatures, and ergonomic risks are a few examples. Several approaches are used to assess physical dangers, including noise dosimetry, vibration measurement, and thermal stress monitoring.

What are the occupational hygiene stressors?

The following stressors and dangers can be encountered by construction workers, and prolonged exposure to these stressors can lead to acute injury, chronic disease, permanent disability, or even death.

This table helps you identify the common stressors-

What are the fundamentals of occupational hygiene?

Chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and other scientific fields serve as the basis for the principles of occupational hygiene.
The following serve as the foundation for occupational hygiene concepts and principles:

• Hazard identification: Identifying the origins and types of dangers that could cause harm to workers.
• Exposure Assessment: Measuring the degree of workers' exposure to risks.
• Risk Assessment: Evaluating the possibility and seriousness of harm resulting from exposure to risks is known as risk assessment.
• Control Measures: Adopting actions to remove or decrease exposure to dangers.
• Monitoring: Assessing the efficacy of control measures and making sure they are upheld.

How to mark occupational risks in a construction workplace?

There are a few common tasks that fall under the 3 common segments of the risks associated with occupational hygiene. Once these are found, the evaluation must be started to get more accurate results of the actual risks on that specific site.

1. Finding scientific data

Obtaining specific, quantifiable data is the main goal of evaluation. This information is then benchmarked against established Workplace Exposure Standards (WES), such as those issued by Safe Work Australia. These guidelines describe the legally acceptable airborne concentrations of hundreds of compounds that a worker can be exposed to over a day without incurring ill health.

An obvious warning sign that current controls aren't working and that workers are in danger is when a measurement exceeds the standard. However, the work is not finished even if the levels are below the limit.

2. Tools for Evaluation

To acquire these accurate measures, hygienists rely on a full arsenal of specialised equipment, each intended for a specific task.
Typical assessment techniques include:

• Air Sampling Pumps: These are compact, portable devices worn by a worker that extract a precise volume of air via a special filter or tube. The sample is then examined in a lab to identify the concentration of dusts, fibres, or chemical vapours in the worker's breathing zone.
• Direct-Reading Instruments: These devices serve as essential if you're looking for real-time data on certain gases, vapours, or dusts. They are perfect for identifying times of maximum exposure or quickly determining whether a new ventilation system is actually working.
• Noise Dosimeters: Another tiny, body-worn gadget that monitors an employee's individual noise exposure throughout the course of their shift is a noise dosimeter. Because it records the highs and lows while the worker travels around and completes various duties, it is significantly more accurate than a fast spot check with a sound level meter.

3. Practical occupational hygiene controls on construction sites

Being aware of a danger is one thing, but managing it is a completely different matter. It's time to act decisively after a threat has been identified and its degree of danger assessed. Here are five ways the danger can be tackled from its roots-

• Elimination: Completely eliminating the risk is the ultimate standard. Because the risk just vanishes, it's the most effective control. An excellent illustration would be a manufacturing company that entirely discontinues the use of a very hazardous solvent, hence removing any possibility of worker exposure.
• Substitution: Changing the danger for something safer is the best course of action if removal is not an option. Think substituting a solvent-based colour with a water-based one, or swapping a deafeningly loud item of machinery with a much quieter version.
• Engineering Controls: In order to provide a barrier between humans and the danger, this level involves physically altering the workplace. These controls are so powerful because they are incorporated directly into the workplace and don’t depend on individuals altering their behaviour. Common examples are local exhaust ventilation systems that catch dust and pollutants at the source.
• Administrative Controls: The goal here is to alter how individuals operate. These controls include things like safe work processes, rigorous training, and limiting how long someone is exposed to a hazard through job rotation. A “permit-to-work” system for accessing a limited place is a wonderful illustration of a key administrative control.
• Personal Protective Equipment: PPE, such as respirators, gloves, or safety glasses, solely protects the wearer and is entirely dependent on their proper, consistent use. It does nothing to remove the actual hazard from the job. Workplaces frequently make the grave error of immediately implementing PPE. However, it should always be the last option. PPE might be unpleasant, might not fit correctly, and can even provide a false sense of security. The worker is fully exposed to the risk if it fails for some reason.

What makes occupational hygiene different from work health safety (WHS)?

Work Health and Safety (WHS) is basically the big-picture framework for maintaining workplace safety. It includes everything from trip and fall prevention to fire evacuation strategies. Within that context, however, occupational hygiene is a specialised discipline. Managing the immediate safety concerns that result in unexpected accidents and injuries is a common focus of WHS. The unseen health risks, on the other hand, are the main emphasis of occupational hygiene.

In short, a WHS adviser may mark a loud place as dangerous. The person who comes in with specific tools to measure that noise objectively, identify the specific people who are in danger, and design a way to mitigate it is an occupational hygienist.

When should you conduct an occupational hygiene assessment?

Businesses should hire a certified occupational hygienist in the following circumstances:

1. Prior to beginning a new project or development, particularly in high-risk sectors.
2. When older buildings that may contain lead paint or asbestos are being renovated.
3. When introducing new machinery, chemicals, or processes that potentially influence worker health.
4. After a health-related incident or employee complaint regarding air quality, noise, or exposure.
5. As part of standard compliance and risk management practices.

Conclusion

In Australia, worker health and safety are largely dependent on occupational hygiene. It provides an organised method for preserving worker health while guaranteeing corporate viability and regulatory compliance. In short, investments in occupational hygiene programs deliver substantial returns.

The relevance of occupational hygiene will continue to expand as workplaces adapt and new issues emerge. If you, as a business owner, are still not sure about how to establish and practice occupational hygiene in your construction site, it's high time to consult a safety management consultant.

So, book a free consultation at Solving Safety on Site (SSOS) today.