Construction

Depending on the hazards present in the construction site, there is a range of equipment that can be used for personal safety and environmental monitoring. These include:

• Environmental monitoring stations: These devices are commonly used to measure a range of parameters including particulate matter (PM₁ to PM₁₀), gases such as carbon monoxide, and environmental factors such as weather and temperature in the working environment.
• Personal noise dosimeters and sound level meters: Used to measure noise exposure in real-time, alerting workers when exposed to unsafe levels of occupational and environmental noise to reduce the risk of hearing loss.
• Portable heat stress monitors: Provides real-time data on environmental parameters including air temperature, air movement, and humidity which is used to conduct a risk assessment for heat stress.
• Water quality sampling equipment: Used on construction sites to monitor and ensure the safety and compliance of water discharge and runoff. This allows construction sites to effectively manage environmental impact and protect local water sources.

In Australia, high-risk construction work (HRCW) refers to specific types of construction activities that pose significant risks to the health and safety of workers. According to Safe Work Australia, this includes work involving asbestos, work that is carried out in or near a confined space, work that involves a risk of a person falling more than two meters, and more.

Safe Work Australia requires a safe work method statement to be prepared for HRCW to evaluate any potential hazards that may arise and plan control measures to ensure a safe work environment and minimise harm to workers.

Exposure to crystalline silica dust in construction can be prevented through a combination of engineering controls, work practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), and training. There are a number of measures that can be implemented to prevent silica exposure. It is vital to never rely solely on one method, but rather use a combination of measures to prevent construction workers' exposure to crystalline silica. These include:

• Elimination: Involves removing the risks associated with exposure by using non-silica containing products and avoiding using processes which generate silica dust.
• Substitution: Opting to use a different product which does not contain crystalline silica or one which contains a lower concentration of it, such as natural stone.
• Engineering controls: Effective dust control using physical methods to reduce risk of exposure, such as on-tool water suppression (using water to supress dust before it becomes airborne) or on-tool dust extraction (extracting dust from the source as it is produced).
• Administrative controls: Encompasses regular dust clean up, isolation of a certain area to be used for high dust generating activities, rotation policies to ensure worker exposure to crystalline silica does not exceed workplace standards and more.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Using appropriate PPE including eye and ear protection as well as fit tested respiratory masks can protect the worker from inhaling the fine particles. The respiratory protective equipment (RPE) selected must adhere to AS/NZS 1715:2009.

Construction sites are full of potential gas hazards which need to be monitored. It is vital that workers wear personal gas detection devices to ensure they are promptly alerted to dangerous gas levels so they can take immediate action to protect their health and safety. Common gases that should be monitored in construction sites include:

• Oxygen (O₂): Oxygen deficiency poses a significant hazard on construction sites, particularly in confined spaces such as tanks, trenches, and sewers. When other gases displace oxygen, the atmosphere can become dangerously low in oxygen, leading to risks of suffocation and impaired cognitive function. Workers may experience dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness, which can be fatal if not addressed promptly.
• Carbon monoxide (CO): In construction, CO is a colourless and odourless toxic gas generated from vehicle emissions, portable generators and tools with petrol engines. The incomplete combustion of fuels like petrol, diesel and propane can lead to dangerous levels of CO, causing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even death with prolonged exposure.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs are toxic chemicals emitted by a range of synthetic building materials commonly emitted from adhesives, paint and sealants. Portable photoionisation detectors (PIDs), such as the Tiger XT, are highly sensitive gas detectors commonly used to detect and monitor VOCs in real-time. VOCs are known to cause irritation to the eyes, cause headaches and nausea, lead to respiratory conditions and have longer term health effects including liver and kidney damage.