Hidden dangers lurk on jobsites

Beware of subtle dangers that can hurt you as badly as traumatic injuries.

Safety talks often focus on the big four construction dangers: struck-by, caught in-between, falls and electrical hazards. However, there are plenty of other hazards lurking on jobsites that can cause serious long-term health problems if they aren’t addressed.

Contractor Tools and Supplies editors gleaned OSHA, insurance company, health department and other sources to identify subtle dangers that workers face on a jobsite. While not a complete list, it helps workers and their supervisors increase their awareness of the dangers they may face and how they can be controlled.

Noise/hearing damage
Overexposure to high noise levels – greater than 85 dB(A) – can traumatize hearing and lead to hearing loss over time.

According to experts at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell, noise levels should not exceed the limits in Table 1.

This assumes there is minimal noise exposure for the rest of the day. The experts recommend posting a noise perimeter zone around equipment where noise levels are 90 dB(A) or higher. Rope off and mark the area to keep out workers who don’t have to be there.

Use a sound level meter to identify the safe distance from the source of the noise. Keep in mind that noise doesn’t usually radiate uniformly from the source. Keep out workers who do not need to be in the area and require workers within the zone to wear hearing protection.

Mold
Don Garvey, mold information source at the St. Paul, an insurance company, reports that building owners are increasingly coming back to contractors to remediate mold. Mold can affect remediation workers so personal protective equipment and other precautions are needed to protect workers.

The EPA sorts mold contamination by level, based on the area it covers: Level 1 – 10 sq. ft., Level 2 – 10 to 100 sq. ft., or Level 3 more than 100 sq. ft. “This is just a starting point. States have certain laws and this assumes the mold has been caused by clean water. Get help for sewage or chemical/biological contaminated water damage,” he says.

Use N95 disposable or better respirators on Level 1 jobs, full-face respirators with N100 filters on Level 2 jobs and powered air-purifying respirators with N100 filters on Level 3 jobs. “Workers also need impervious gloves that cover to the mid-forearm, sealed or indirect-vented goggles and disposable coveralls. They must have access to a hand and face washing station,” he says.

Asbestos
Asbestos still lurks on jobsites where repair, rebuild and replace activities occur on older facilities.

According to the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights, all kinds of asbestos are dangerous, and asbestos-related diseases can take 20 years or more to show up.

Any construction worker may be in danger during maintenance, remodeling, or demolition of an old building or road. Workers’ families may be at risk from asbestos brought home on workers’ clothes or shoes.

The smallest asbestos fibers are the most dangerous because they can get in lungs and cause asbestosis, which scars lungs and makes it hard to breathe. Asbestos can cause lung cancer or mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest or stomach. The greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of it affecting your health.

Workers must have special training to remove or work around disturbed asbestos. In some cases, more training is needed each year. A competent person must be available to workers and should know the requirements for personal protection and must inspect the job regularly. Workers who disturb or remove asbestos must wear at least a half-face respirator with N-, R-, or P-100 (HEPA) cartridges.

Workers must minimize airborne asbestos by keeping asbestos wet and by cleaning up the dust with special HEPA vacuums. Asbestos waste must be immediately placed in special bags for disposal. Workers must not eat, drink or smoke in an asbestos work area and must clean their hands and faces before eating, drinking or smoking. Workers must shower and change clothes before going home for the day.

Silica and other particles
The Workers’ Health Center reports that other fibers have been implicated in breathing conditions and disabilities. These synthetic mineral fibers (SMF) can be found in fiberglass, rock wool and ceramic fibrous products.

In good working conditions with adequate protection to the workers, the health risk from exposure to SMF dust is very low. Suitable respirators and protective clothing must be provided by the employer and worn by exposed workers.

Wood dust is another potential irritant. Use a dust extraction system to control wood dust and personal protection equipment, such as dust masks and eye protection, must be worn when machining wood. Clean up wood dust daily. With engineered wood, ventilate the work area to minimize exposure to formaldehyde or glue fumes.

Carbon monoxide and other gases
Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and colorless. The Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at George Washington University reports that carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms are dizziness, headache, weakness and confusion. In poorly ventilated areas, gasoline or propane-fueled engines, even small ones, can give off enough carbon monoxide to make workers sick or even die. It can build up quickly in confined spaces such as sheds, trenches, tanks and closed rooms. Spaces like underground parking garages or warehouses may be poorly ventilated and can allow carbon monoxide to reach toxic levels.

Carbon monoxide may come from other workers’ activities, so beware if anyone on the jobsite is using gas- or propane-powered equipment.

Increasing ventilation by opening windows and doors and/or using exhaust fans can reduce risks. Keep the engine outside and make sure the exhaust doesn’t blow back inside or get sucked inside by fans.

Lead
According to the OSHA publication, Construction Workers and Lead Exposure, workers at highest risk of lead exposure are those involved in abrasive blasting and welding, cutting and burning on steel structures. OSHA’s lead in construction standard applies to all construction work where an employee may be exposed to lead.

Contractors should limit worker exposure to lead through engineering controls, good work practices and training. Workers need personal protective clothing and equipment, including respirators, where required. The employer needs to designate a competent person who can identify lead hazards and can take prompt measures to eliminate them. The employer should, as needed, consult a safety and health professional to develop and implement an effective worker protection program.

Lead is a cumulative and persistent toxic substance, so rigorous housekeeping and following basic personal hygiene practices will help minimize employee exposure.

Workers should wash their hands and face after work and before eating to minimize lead exposure. Employers should provide and ensure that workers use washing facilities and have a clean changing area and a readily accessible clean eating area. Cars should be parked where they will not be contaminated with lead.

Although engineering and work practice controls are the primary means of protecting workers from lead exposure, respirators often must also be used.

Solvents/adhesives
Chemicals abound on jobsites. They are found in solvents and adhesives, reports The Workers’ Health Center.

Solvent liquids or vapors can have short- and long-term effects on workers’ health, depending on the chemicals in the solvent and the amount of exposure through breathing or through the skin. Short-term exposure to fumes from solvents or adhesives may cause headaches, nausea, drowsiness and dermatitis or skin problems. Repeated exposure to certain solvents may cause long-term damage to the kidneys, liver and skin. Personality changes, sleep disorders, short-term memory loss and dementia can also occur from excessive exposure.

The employer should prevent any hazardous substance exposure to any workers. Workers should also have ready access to information supplied on the chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).

Infections from jobsite contamination
Sewage spills and other virus- and bacteria-ridden materials on jobsites can pose risks, report The Workers’ Health Center. Contact with raw sewage or with sewage-contaminated areas can expose workers to Hepatitis A and infectious bacteria such as Giardia. Work such as plumbing have a higher risk from these biological hazards.

Hepatitis A is spread by sewage-contaminated food and water or by its contact with open sores or cuts. Infection occurs three to four weeks after exposure and shows up as a fever, headache, nausea, pain in the abdomen, dark urine and jaundice. The disease can be more severe in older victims.

Workers can be inoculated against the virus. If working around sewage, contact a medical practitioner for preventive measures.

Bird excrement is another source of dangerous infectious material and most anyone doing repair/rebuild/replace work is exposed to it.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus found in pigeon excrement. It can live for months in dried feces. Infection usually occurs in the lung, causing pneumonia-like symptoms and rarely, a form of meningitis. Workers exposed to bird excrement should be protected with an appropriate respirator and should wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, gloves and fully enclosed shoes.

Strains and sprains
Most construction injuries are to soft tissues or muscles, reports OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Occupational Safety and Health. They include:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is a problem of the nerve in the hand and wrist caused by repeated wrist bending, holding tools or materials tightly or constantly pressing the wrist against a hard object. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, burning and pain. In severe cases, there may be wasting of the muscles at the base of the thumb, a dry, shiny palm or hand clumsiness.

Raynaud’s Syndrome or White Finger Disease. This is a problem of the nerves and blood vessels in the hands often caused by vibrating tools. It causes numb and tingling fingers that can worsen in cold weather. Fingers turn pale white, then blue and then red. Numbness and weakness prevent a good grip and interfere with work. Smoking can aggravate this condition.

Tendonitis. This is inflammation and soreness in tendons is caused by repeated joint movement. Symptoms include burning pain or dull ache, swelling or puffiness, snapping or jerking movements (crepitus), or ganglionic cysts. Tendonitis comes from repetitive motions like using a staple gun or rotating or twisting motions like screw-driving. Tools that are too small or too large for the hand can also stress tendons.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. This is caused by reduced blood flow in the shoulder and arm from overhead work or carrying heavy items with the arms hanging down.

Carpet Layers’ Knee. Caused by repeated use of a knee kicker while laying carpet.

Back pain. This is caused by repeated lifting of materials, sudden movements, whole body vibration, lifting and twisting at the same time, or bending for long periods. Back problems, which seem to appear overnight, often build up slowly over time.

Degenerative disc disease. Caused by damage to the gel-like cushions between vertebrae or bones. Released gel presses on the nerve and causes numbness, pain and weakness in the leg, hips, arms or upper back.

Sprains and strains. A sprain is an injury or tear to ligaments; a strain is injury to muscles that have been stretched or used too much.

Strained muscles and sprained ligaments can irritate muscles around them. Address these causes to help reduce soft-tissue problems:
     • Reduce force or muscle effort.
     • Avoid awkward body postures.
     • Reduce repetitive work.
     • Minimize power tool vibration.
     • Minimize contact stress when using
         tools and sharp objects.
     • Remove back injury risks.

Sun and skin cancer
Sun exposure is the primary cause of skin cancer. That means construction laborers are at high risk for this disease, reports the Skin Cancer Foundation. It reports that outdoor workers experience twice the number of nonmelanoma skin cancers as indoor workers.

It recommends workers avoid tanning or getting sunburned. Both cause DNA damage that paves the way to skin cancer. Risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, doubles if a person has had five or more sunburns.

The majority of melanoma victims are white men over age 50. It is the No. 1 cancer in men over age 50 and middle-aged and older men are the least likely to detect melanoma in its early stages.

Sunscreen is a good defense. To be sure a sunscreen works, look for The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation on the label.

Clothing can protect skin from the sun’s UV rays, but not all clothing is created equal, reports the Skin Cancer Foundation experts. Weave tightness, fabric weight, fiber, color and amount of skin covered affect the level of protection.

The easiest way to test if a fabric offers protection is to hold it up to the light. If you can see through it, then UV radiation can penetrate it. Darker-colored fabrics are more effective than lighter-colored fabrics at blocking out the sun.

High-tech fabrics that have been specially treated with chemical UV absorbers provide some protection from UVB and UVA rays. Clothes with a sun-protective claim are usually UPF 50+ (allowing only 1/50 of the sun’s UV rays to pass through). Like regular clothing, sun-protective clothing may lose its effectiveness if it is pulled too tight or stretched, gets damp or wet, or if it is washed and worn many times.
A laundry additive, Sun Guard, contains the sunscreen Tinosorb FD. When added to a detergent, it increases the UPF of the clothing and can last through 20 washings.

Cement dust dermatitis
Cement burns, cement dermatitis, and hexavalent chromium allergies are major skin health problems suffered by those working with wet cement products, report Neutralite sources, makers of a pH buffering solution for concrete workers. It reports that wet cement is the No. 1 cause of occupational skin disease in the United States.

Portland cement mixes are very alkaline, with a pH of 12.0 to 13.0, human skin has a pH of 5.5. Strong acids or alkalis can damage or destroy skin and prolonged exposure can even destroy skin all the way to the bone.

Buffering solutions can help reduce dermatitis caused by wet cement; using PPE that protects skin and using concrete placing methods that reduce skin contact also help.

Eye injuries
About 1,000 work-related eye injuries occur each day, and construction workers have the highest rate of injuries, reports Katherine Hunting, safety expert at George Washington University. Wearing protective glasses that cost as little as $7.50 can help prevent those injuries, reports Hunting.

Electricians, plumbers and pipe fitters rank in the top five trades being treated by George Washington University Hospital for eye injuries. Solvent splashes, liquids or gases under pressure, electrical sparks, nails, solder specks, grinding dust, glass, bits of wire and welding fumes are the most common eye injury causes, she reports.

If something injures your eye, Hunting offers these tips:
     • Don’t rub it.
     • Ask the safety supervisor or first aid person
         to look at it. If it is cut or punctured, don’t
         wash, touch or lift the upper lid of the eye.
         Get medical attention immediately.
     • If it’s not cut or punctured, rinse with
         clean water for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
         ANSI-approved eyewash stations are best.
     • Get medical attention immediately.

Published in the November/December 2007 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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