Health Impacts of Building Materials on Construction Workers

Abstract

The construction area has a long history of health effects that include injuries, fatal accidents, and other ecological health impacts on workers’ wellbeing. The health impact of building and construction has raised considerable interest from the exposure of construction workers in various industries. Safety practices and regulatory compliance are expected to reduce the number of catastrophic health effects on a construction worker. This chapter considers emerging trends on health impacts through a systematic review of emerging themes on hazards that include, nanomaterials, climate change and stress, particles and emissions, and their associated occupational diseases and risk factors. In addition, the chapter provides a legal framework for occupational health and safety. It further demonstrates critical lessons on managing occupational construction risks on long term impact based on applied standards, use of personal protective equipment, and training of construction workers to enhance safety and wellbeing for sustainable development initiatives going forward.