Construction workers experience health risks every day at work. They are exposed to dust, constant noise, and dangerous chemicals. Also, these workers have very high rates of physiological diseases as they engage in hazardous working conditions.
Because of the health hazards involved, workers have reported very low working life spans. Fortunately, it’s not only very possible to moderate the wellbeing of constructors, but very accessible as well.
Contractors around the world are gaining awareness and are taking measures to mitigate health risks in the working areas. Here are some measures you can take yourself to reduce any work-related health risks.
Table of Contents
1) Use Evaporative Coolers to mitigate Heat Stress
Construction projects are often rushed, and that means work must be carried on in summer. In such cases, workers are exposed to heat stress, and health issues are likely to result. This will not just affect the workers but also the contractor since the project is slowed down.
To prevent such cases, Thomas Morrison from Portacool LLC recommends that you use evaporative coolers in your working areas. In addition, he advises workers to wear lighter clothes and continuously hydrate their bodies. In the midday sun, workers should take a rest as the heat can lead to skin conditions.
2) Sweep and Spray Water to Reduce Dusty
Constructions typically involve excessive amounts of dust, and this usually leads to the development of respiratory diseases. Many construction workers have to spend long periods outdoors almost every day they report to work, and this always exposes them to excessive dust.
A case at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport was so severe that the state government had to get involved. They solved the problem by sprinkling water on the ground regularly to prevent the rising of dust when vehicles were in operations. Also, the environment was swept daily to reduce the amount of dust. Ideally, sweeping should be done after working hours.
These measures can be implemented in all construction sites to reduce respiratory ailments.
3) Personal Protective Equipment
Construction workers often suffer injuries when chemicals and heavy objects are involved. These lead to bone breakages, diseases, and infections.
For protection against chemicals and injury from falling objects, it is important for construction workers to wear safety-toed footwear that is strong enough to resist chemicals. The shoes should also have a strong grip on the ground to prevent falls.
Many people suffer falls in construction sites, especially where contractors don’t implement safety measures. Your risks of falling can be reduced by choosing proper footwear.
In addition, hard hats will help prevent injuries in case workers bump into hard surfaces or get hit by falling objects. These should always be replaced after heavy blows.
Construction workers also need to wear gloves for hand protection. These should always be chosen with consideration to the type of work being carried out. For concrete work, heavy duty rubber gloves are ideal. If you are working around electrical hazards, you should go for insulated gloves and sleeves. Make certain the gloves fit perfectly.
For the face and eyes, protection will be determined by the hazard that is expected. People working on electrical systems will need to have protective glasses. Regular prescription glasses are not designed to protect from impact. If you need to wear eyeglasses, you should consider a pair of safety goggles that fit over glasses.
4) Engage in Physical Therapy
Many construction workers ignore pain, and this leads to long-term problems. Experiencing pain isn’t normal and should be treated as such. Go to the doctor when you experience body ache and give physical therapy a try.
When you experience pain, this should actually be your first treatment option. It has been discovered to have lots of other benefits besides reducing pain. Most importantly, the therapy will reduce the risks of physical injury in the work place. Through it, you will have greater stability and increased mobility, both of which are very important to construction workers.
Construction workers have also been noted to have shortened lifespans as they tend to develop age-related health problems earlier. Physical therapy helps the body stay fit for longer and even helps in recovery from strokes. Heart and lung diseases can also be controlled through physical therapy.
Through physical therapy, many people have been able to recover without having to go through surgery. Numerous respectable doctors such as Eric Robertson have encouraged the use of physical therapy for its many benefits. Dr. Robinson even founded PTThinkTank.com to promote this form of pain relief.
Conclusion
Governments around the world are continuously making constructions sites safer for workers. Still, this group of laborers experiences very high rates of infections and diseases. This is partly because of carelessness. So, as a diligent construction worker, you can reduce your health risks in the work station by implementing these safety measures.
In case you get a serious infection or pain in the body, you should make sure to visit a doctor for an examination. Note that health conditions always get worse if ignored.
