WORK RELATED ILL-HEALTH

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAZARDS AND HEAT STRESS

Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Project

BNPP Project - Occupational Health & Food Safety Awareness

COURSE CONTENTS
I. II. III. IV. V. VI. CHP, Relevant Legislation & Best Practices Health Hazards Ergonomics Personal Hygiene Balance Lifestyle Stress Awareness

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CHP RELEVANT LEGISLATIONS & BEST PRACTICES

No Harm to Resources Clear affirmation that accident & harm to people will be unacceptable in the project. HSJV target is zero occupational health incidents. Improve on Current Best Industry Practice. HSJV will continuously seek Health & Safety excellence through regular monitoring and improvement.

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HEALTH HAZARD TOPICS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. CHEMICAL HAZARDS

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS AND ERGONOMICS Carcinogens, Mutagens, Teratogens Radiation Industrial Dermatitis Noise Induced Deafness Biological Hazards Heat Stress

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Some Examples of Construction Health Hazards

Occupations
Brickmasons Drywall installers Electricians Painters Pipefitters Carpet layers Insulation workers Roofers Carpenters Drillers, earth, rock

Potential Health Hazards

Cement dermatitis, awkward postures, heavy loads Plaster dust, heavy loads, awkward postures Heavy metals in solder fumes, awkward posture, heavy loads, asbestos Solvent vapors, toxic metals in pigments, paint additives Lead fumes and particles, welding fumes, asbestos dust Knee trauma, awkward postures, glue and glue vapor Asbestos, synthetic fibers, awkward postures Roofing tar, heat Noise, awkward postures, repetitive motion Silica dust, whole-body vibration, noise

Excavating and loading Silica dust, histoplasmosis, whole-body vibration, heat machine operators stress, noise Hazardous waste workers Heat stress, toxic chemicals

Types of Health Hazards

Health hazards are generally grouped as:
Chemical Physical Biological

Ergonomic
Ergonomic hazards are the most frequently occurring health hazards in construction and the cause of most injuries.

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.

Examples of chemical hazards found in construction work:

asbestos lead silica cadmium carbon monoxide

welding fumes spray paints cutting oil mists solvents hexavalent chromium

Chemical Hazards
Chemicals can enter the body through:
inhalation breathed in
Inhalation is typically the most common way chemicals can enter the body in a work situation.

ingestion

accidental swallowing through eating, drinking, or smoking

absorption absorbed through contact with skin or eyes

Injection, in which a chemical enters the body when the skin is punctured, occurs rarely (e.g., paint from a high-pressure spray gun).

Chemical Hazards
Two types of health effects from chemical exposure
HEALTH EFFECTS EXPOSURE EXAMPLE
Headache, collapse or death from high levels of carbon monoxide

ACUTE

Appears immediately or Typically sudden, within short time following short-term, high exposure, (minutes or concentration hours); death possible from some hazardous substances

Usually develops slowly, as long as 15-20 years or CHRONIC more

Continued or repeated for a prolonged period, usually years

Lung cancer from exposure to asbestos

Some chemicals can have both acute and chronic effects, e.g., carbon monoxide.

Acute or Chronic
Acute: Surface immediately after short exposure Normally short exposure time and large dosage Take from a few minutes to a few hours for symptoms to show

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Acute or Chronic

Chronic:
Surfaces only after repeated exposure

Normally long exposure time and small dosage

Take months or years to develop symptoms.

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Localized or Systemic

Localized:
Damage will be sighted on the point/site of contact. Example: Burns cause redness/blisters on skin

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Localized or Systemic

Systemic:
Systemic poisons targets specific organs (Liver, brain, kidney) Examples are:
Hepatotoxins cause liver damage (Carbon Tetrachloride)
Nephrotoxins cause kidney damage (Uranium) Neurotoxin cause nerve system damage (Mercury)

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Asbestos

AVOID BREATHING AIRBORNE ASBESTOS FIBERS

Construction workers may be exposed to asbestos during demolition or remodeling of older buildings built before 1980 which can contain asbestos insulation, or other asbestos containing products. Asbestos removal can only be done by specially trained asbestos workers.

asbestos pipe insulation

Asbestos exposure can cause breathing problems, lung cancer and cancer of the lung lining many years after exposure.

ASBESTOSIS

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

Solvents
A variety of solvents with varying degrees of toxicity are used in construction. They are in paints, glues, epoxies and other products. Generally, the possibility of exposure to excessive amounts of solvent vapors is greater when solvents are handled in enclosed or confined spaces. 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.

Silica more than just dust

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 to excessive silica dust causes lung scarring and lung disease over time.

Brick cutting

Blowing concrete dust with compressed air

Concrete cutting

SILICOSIS

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 poisoning (also known as plumbism, colica Pictonum, saturnism, Devon colic,or painter's colic) is a medical condition in humans and other vertebrates,caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body.

Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems.

Signs or symptoms that may be related to over-exposure to lead are:

Tiredness or weakness Irritability Trouble sleeping Headache Difficulty concentrating Aches or pains in stomach Anorexia Constipation Nausea Weight loss How does lead affect adults?
Impotency Brain and nervous system damage High blood pressure Digestive problems Kidney problems Anemia Reproductive system problems Hearing, vision and muscle coordination problems

Confined Spaces
Exposure to chemicals or lack of oxygen in confined spaces can be deadly.
Airborne chemicals can quickly reach dangerous levels in confined spaces that are not ventilated. 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. As many co-workers who attempt rescue die in confined spaces as the original worker who collapsed. Confined spaces include manholes, sewers, vaults, tanks, and boilers in new construction or in repair and maintenance work.

CONFINED SPACES

Physical Hazards
Physical hazards are different types of energy which may be hazardous to workers. They include:

Noise

Vibration
Temperature extremes

Radiation

Physical Hazards Noise

Probable noise levels of some common construction equipment at operators ear
Equipment or Tool Back hoe Noise level will probably exceed:

Prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels can cause noise-induced hearing loss. Noise levels above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss.
When you are exposed to excessive noise levels, the first stage is temporary hearing loss. Over time, the hearing loss becomes permanent.

85 decibels

Bulldozer
Chopsaw Grader/scraper Front end loader Jackhammer Nail-gun Router Welding equipment

87 decibels
92 decibels 107 decibels 90 decibels 102 decibels 97 decibels 90 decibels 92 decibels

Physical Hazards Noise

Several factors influence the noise levels to which workers are exposed:
Type of equipment being operated Condition/maintenance of the equipment

Other equipment running at the same time

Enclosed or partially enclosed spaces
High noise levels can be sporadic in construction. Damage to hearing is cumulative and exposure limits are based on 8-hour averages. Workers not using or operating equipment are often exposed to excessive noise as much as the operators.

Types of Hearing Protection

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Physical Hazards Whole Body Vibration

Whole-body vibration can occur from operating large mobile equipment, such as drillers, air hammers, pile drivers, tractors, graders, excavators, earth-moving equipment, and other large machinery.

Physical Hazards Vibration

Hand-arm vibration can result from using hand-held power tools, such as pneumatic drills and hammers, and disc grinders.
Hand-arm vibration may cause carpal tunnel syndrome, a disease that affects the fingers and hands. In the long run, permanent damages to the nerves will result in a loss of the sense of touch and dexterity. Working in a cold and damp environment can aggravate the harmful effects of hand-arm vibration.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Physical Hazards Temperature Extremes

A change in body temperature due to extreme work environmental conditions can lead to stress or illness from heat or cold. If not treated in time, both heat and cold stress/illness can develop into life-threatening situations.

Heavy work in high temperatures can cause muscle cramps, dehydration, sudden collapse, and unconsciousness.
Cold temperatures can lead to fatigue, irregular breathing, confusion, and loss of consciousness (hypothermia).

Heat illnesses:
Heat rash Fainting Heat cramps Heat exhaustion Heat stroke

Cold illnesses and injuries:

Frost nip Immersion injury (trench foot) Frost bite Hypothermia

Physical Hazards Heat

Hot conditions can occur from:
prolonged work under direct sunlight in summer (e.g., asphalt paving or roofing in summer) wearing impermeable protective clothing when doing heavy work

working in an enclosed area with a strong heat source, poor ventilation, and high humidity (e.g., heavy equipment operators in an enclosed cab with without sufficient ventilation)

Physical Hazards Cold

Cold conditions:
cold air temperatures rain, snow, sleet, or other wet weather conditions windy conditions underground construction work working over water and falling in

Physical Hazards Ionizing Radiation

X-rays and gamma rays from equipment used to gauge the density and thickness of pipes, to inspect welds, or for detecting weakness of metal structures radioactive isotopes from flow meters
Health effects: increased risk of developing cancer and genetic disease.

Physical Hazards non-ionizing radiation

ultraviolet light from sunlight & welding infrared radiation from torch welding and cutting radio waves from radio transmission devices ( roof-top dishes & antennas)
Welding ultraviolet light

lasers used for aligning, ranging, and surveying are usually low-powered but can cause eye injuries if directly viewed for extended time
Health effects: premature skin aging skin cancer burns eye damage

Rooftop radio antenna

Biological Hazards
Bio means life, living. Hazard means a source of danger . Biohazards are dangers come from living organisms and includes Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Parasites, Insects, Plants, Birds, Animals and Humans. Infectious Diseases remains a major cause of death and debility and are responsible for worsening the living conditions of millions of people around the world.

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Biological Hazards
Diseases or illnesses can occur from biological sources: Microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds)
SALMONELLA AMOEBA VARICELLA VIRUS

Some of these diseases are minor infections; others can be serious or deadly.

SALMONELLOSIS

SALMONELLA PATHOGENESIS

AMEBIASIS

Biological Hazards
Exposure may occur during demolition, renovation, sewer work, work on air handling systems, or other construction work from contact with contaminated or disease-carrying:

soil water insects (mosquitoes, ticks) bird or bat droppings animals structures
Pigeon droppings in abandoned building

Ergonomic Hazards
Ergonomic hazards can cause painful and disabling injuries to joints and muscles. The can occur from:

heavy, frequent, or awkward lifting

repetitive tasks awkward grips, postures

using excessive force, overexertion

using wrong tools for the job or using tools improperly

using improperly maintained tools

hand-intensive work
Ergonomic hazards are the most frequently occurring health hazards in construction and the cause of most injuries.

Ergonomic Hazards
can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and injuries:

strains and sprains

one of the most common injuries among construction workers

tendonitis
carpal tunnel syndrome

low back pain

fatigue

Multiple health hazards

In some cases, workers can be exposed to several health hazards at the same time or on the same worksite over time.

This worker is simultaneously exposed to noise, silica dust, vibration and ergonomic hazards.

HEAT STRESS

Heat Stress
Factors Affecting Heat Stress include:
Air movement Radiant heat ( hot vessels & sun) Clothing Humidity ( above 60 %) Work rate (Mild/ Moderate/Heavy) If not controlled HEAT STRESS MAY OCCUR!!!

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Heat Stress
Effects of heat stress on your body

Heat Rash (prickly heat)

Heat Cramps (painful spasms of muscles) Heat Exhaustion (feeling weak) Heat Stroke (life threatening!)

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Heat Stress
Heat Rash ( prickly heat ) Occur in hot & humid environments, where sweat is not easily removed from the skin surface by evaporation. Heat Cramps are painful spasms of the muscles that occur when workers drink large amounts of water but fail to replace their electrolyte losses. Occur when acclimatized worker carry out intense physical activity.

Cramps may occur during or after working hours, usually in the lower extremities, abdomen

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Heat Stress
Heat Exhaustion salt & water (electrolytes) loss due excessive sweating, symptoms:

Weak, fatigued, tired Headache, dizziness Intense thirst Nauseous Cramps, usually abdominal Cold clammy pale skin Rapid shallow breathing Rapid weak pulse Disoriented Fainting

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Heat Stress
Heat Stroke occurs when the bodys heat regulating Mechanism fail. Too dehydrated to sweat anymore. mortality rate as high as 70%. The signs are: Hot red skin (Over 40C) No sweating Very rapid weak pulse Slow shallow breathing Confused Tremors, seizures Delirium Coma

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Risk Factors
Dehydration Lack of acclimatization Physically unfit Lack of sleep Alcohol consumption, tea, coffee Medical condition (cold, flue) Some medications & drugs Education

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Prevention

Drink as much as you need Rotate work ( from hot to cool areas)

Report to your Supervisor or Nurse at first sign of any problem

Rest 10-15 minutes for every hour of work or 5 7 minutes every 30 minutes in extremely hot weather Remember! An Ounce of Prevention is Better Pound of Cure!! than a

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The color of urine tells you how dehydrated you are!

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Ergonomics=

is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.

What can be done to minimize this strain? It is recommended that a person break for 5-10 minutes for every hour spent at a workstation. Vary the work tasks, by carrying out other duties or tasks that involve moving around or changing body position. Stand up and move around. Look away from the screen occasionally and focus your eyes on an object far away.

Take regular rest breaks to ease muscle aches, eye strain and stress.
Relax your muscles, stretch and change position.
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Ergonomics (Exercises)

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Ergonomics (Exercises)

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Personal Hygiene
Personal Hygiene is the first step to good grooming and good health. Good Grooming Practices:
Shampoo with hair conditioner

Use skin lotion with UV protection, skin moisturizers

Protect your hands by using appropriate gloves Cut fingernails, toenails weekly and clean them

Feet

Wash, clean, wipe & let dry thoroughly before putting your socks on to avoid athletes foot.

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BALANCE LIFESTYLE

Lifestyle is a way of life that reflects persons attitudes and values.

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BALANCE LIFESTYLE
Health Promoting Behaviors? Maintain Healthy Body Weight

Eat Nutritious Foods

Regular Physical Activity/Exercise Enough Sleep Stress Management Abstinence from Tobacco & Alcohol

Positive Attitude

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STRESS AWARENESS
Stress is a body condition that occurs in response to actual or anticipated difficulties in life. Causes of Stress are called Stressors and can be caused by: Biological Environmental Life Situations Behaviors Cognitive activities

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STRESS AWARENESS
Awareness is the key to managing stress.
Common Signs of Stress:
Headaches Upset stomach Anxiety Lack of energy Poor concentration Sadness Forgetfulness

Increased heart rate

Hypertension Muscle tension Mental depression

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STRESS AWARENESS
Typical Reactions to Stress: Social withdrawal Increase use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs Feelings of helplessness about the situation. Irritable Change in eating habits Difficulty sleeping Easily Angered Stress Related Illnesses:
Duodenal Ulcers Hypertension Arrhythmias

Heart attacks
Colds Flu Nervous breakdown

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Ways to Manage Stress:

Think positively and surround yourself with others who do so.

Accept that you cant control everything and be flexible.

Make a list of things to do each day and set reasonable priorities. (Get organised!) Divide big tasks into smaller ones. Eat balance nutritious foods. Regular exercise to boost energy and improve your mood.

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Ways to Manage Stress:

Make time to relax. Listen to music, meditate, read or do something you like. Avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs which acts as a pacifier to stress and aggravates stress. Use mistakes to learn. Talk about things with a friend so that frustrations dont build up.

Appreciate nature.
Laugh and have fun. Let yourself cry.

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Stress Relievers:
Deep Breathing Stretching exercises Aerobic exercises

Mind Over Matter ( Meditation )

Shadow boxing / Sandbag boxing (with picture of your boss pasted on the bag.)

Next time if you feel STRESSED

Remember it is just DESSERTS read backwards!

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