Danger in the air

This is a part of the Hazards feature

By Marcus Nalter - 1 April 2016, Build 153

Exposure to dangerous chemicals and solvents is statistically more likely for construction workers than having an accident. To get the message out, Worksafe New Zealand has rolled out the Clean Air programme.

FOR TOO LONG, the health part of workplace health and safety has been missing from the agenda. Conservative estimates tell us that, for every person who dies in a workplace incident, 10 are likely to die from a work-related health condition. Many more may have their quality of life seriously impaired for years to come.

Making health a priority

This imbalance can no longer continue. We all need to prioritise health as we have been prioritising safety. Addressing workplace health issues not only vastly improves workers’ wellbeing, it also makes good business sense.

WorkSafe New Zealand’s immediate objective in occupational health is to reduce the risk of exposure to respirable crystalline silica and organic solvents in the construction sector through the Clean Air programme.

Dangers of silica dust

Silica is found in substances used on most construction sites, including concrete, wallboard, blocks and paving, brick, stone aggregate, tile and sand. It is produced by cutting, sawing, breaking, hammering, crushing, drilling, chipping or grinding concrete or masonry or abrasive blasting.

When dusts containing silica are disturbed, as during material handling and manufacturing, they are easily inhaled into the lungs.

Dangers of solvents

Organic solvents are in a variety of products, including paints and glues. They are used for spray painting metal, chemically stripping paint, gluing joinery and spraying adhesives and resins on flooring.

Organic solvents are inhaled into the lungs as a vapour and are easily absorbed into the deep tissue of the lungs and then spread into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, solvents can affect a variety of organs as well as the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Repeated exposure can cause irreversible chronic conditions, including brain injuries.

Higher risk than workplace accidents

These substances are toxic, and like asbestos, wood dust and welding fumes, they are all too common in many construction businesses. WorkSafe estimates that construction workers are 20 times more likely to die prematurely from breathing in harmful substances than from a workplace accident.

A key part of the Clean Air programme is raising awareness of the health risks of these substances and how they can be eliminated or controlled.

Staff from WorkSafe’s construction programme are engaging with industry on this issue through nationwide roadshows. Inspectors have been specifically trained on these airborne contaminants and are out supporting workplaces to deal with them.

Mobile unit visits rebuild sites

The Clean Air programme is already well under way in Christchurch. The Canterbury Rebuild programme has been building awareness of airborne contaminants through events like trade breakfast sessions for construction workers.

WorkSafe has organised a mobile occupational health van, staffed by two experienced occupational health nurses, that has done two tours of rebuild sites. Over 900 construction workers were seen by the nurses, with 300 of them choosing to have a free mini health check. They all received advice on how to make sure personal protective equipment is fitted correctly and information on health risks.

Steps companies can take

What can businesses do to keep their workers healthy when exposed to respirable crystalline silica and organic solvents?

Consider a different way of doing the work, if possible.
Fit extraction systems, and make sure they are working properly.
Use water suppression systems to reduce dust.
Get respiratory protective equipment for workers, and make sure they know why and how to use it.
Get staff’s health monitored annually to help ensure the controls are working and to detect early symptoms of work-related ill health.

Expanding the programme

The Clean Air programme is WorkSafe’s initial focus for occupational health. Over the coming months, the focus will expand to areas such as welding fumes and wood dust, which can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic lung disease respectively.

WorkSafe wants people to start thinking of health like safety, but it cannot do this alone. Everyone needs to work together to keep people healthy at work.