Construction Information

The construction industry is one of the appealing trades one can work
for today. Aside that it pays well; it is one of the biggest industries
in UK that has high employment rate. There is a variety of occupational
career that you can apply to in the construction industry including
trades, mechanical, installation and managerial. Workers on the trades
can either be structural or mechanical, for instance carpenters and
roofers or plumbers or project managers.

You may get training in construction work through
apprenticeship. The best apprenticeship programs are usually offered by
local employers, trade associations, and trade unions. For you to be
able to get into the construction industry, it is best that you choose
for a training in plumbing, electrical work, and masonry. Apprenticeship
program usually lasts between 3 to 4 years with at least 144 hours of
classroom session per year. High school subjects such as physics,
mechanical drawing, blueprint reading, welding, and general shop are
also good advancement for you to be able to get shortlisted on the job.

Another
way to get training is to enroll in trade or accredited schools. Some
of the courses that are relevant for the construction industry include
construction science, construction management, building science, and
civil engineering. Graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in civil
engineering is already a very good advancement for you to be able to get
the job even without having to train as a construction worker. Earning
an associate degree will also qualify you for plumbing work or
carpentry.

Graduates
who enter in the construction industry progress faster because they
already have taken courses in math, woodworking, and mechanical drawing.
Other relevant courses include site planning, designing construction
methods, contract administration, building codes and standards,
accounting, and information technology. Graduate of construction science
have better chances of becoming field engineers, schedulers, and
advance into positions such as construction managers and general
superintendents. Training for construction management usually includes
tools, structural components, and computer-aided design (CAD).

It
is very important to note that you must be at least 18 years old in
order to enroll in training. Laborers whose work involves removing
hazardous materials may take safety training from the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration. Once done with training, it is
important that you get a license to work. The licensing requirements can
vary from one state to another. You may also get a certification to
work after training from specific trade associations and organizations.
Your license and certification must also be renewed regularly in order
to remain eligible for work.

Workers within the construction industry face a plethora of health
and safety hazards in their work environments every day. Unfortunately,
health hazards within this industry are often overlooked because so much
emphasis is put on accident prevention.

UK construction has 2 million workers, either
directly or through subcontract and this means that it is the single
largest industry in the UK. The nature of the work on construction sites
makes it one of the most dangerous work environments.

Health
hazards include exposure to materials that can cause long term
ill-effects and injury. Health hazards in construction are not always
immediately obvious, but many of them can have devastating effects, and
can often cause long term health issues. All of these hazards can be
minimized by use of the correct construction safety equipment.

Managing health issues in construction

A system should be put in place to ensure that all steps are taken to
avoid health problems. As a result, reduced absenteeism, reduced staff
turnover, reduced insurance premiums and improved productivity are some
of the benefits that can be seen by ensuring a stringent occupational health control system.

Common health risks include:

Musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain from manual handling Noise
induced hearing loss Hand arm vibration syndrome caused by use of hand
held power toolsSkin and respiratory problems caused by exposure to
hazardous substances

Some of the materials that can cause health hazards within construction, and their implications include the following:

Synthetic Mineral Fibres

Some fibrous products are used in building for thermal insulation or
sound proofing and are generally made from fibreglass or ceramic. Fibres
can cause irritation of the nasal passages, skin, eyes and throat.
Ensure that the relevant construction safety equipment is available to
all personnel who may come into contact with these substances, such as
suitable PPE and respirators.

Wood Dust

Construction
workers often handle substantial quantities of materials such as
fibreboard. Machining operations such as sanding and machining will
generate large amounts of wood dust. Particles of wood dust can be
trapped easily in the nasal passages and inhaling wood dust can cause
asthma. There is also a risk of allergy from inhaling dust from woods
contaminated with fungi.

Construction safety equipment such as
dust masks and eye protection will minimise the risks from inhaling wood
dust particles. Partitioning, or strip curtaining can contain dust
particles within a confined area, making clean up easier.

Solvents

Solvents are used for degreasing and cleaning and are found in glues,
paints and varnishes. Exposure to them can cause short and long term
effects. Problems are caused by either breathing in the vapour produced
by solvents, or by exposure to the skin.

Short term exposure can
cause headaches, nausea, drowsiness and skin problems. Long term
exposure can occur from repeated exposure over a long time and can
include damage to the kidneys, liver and skin. Sleep problems and short
term memory loss are also reported problems associated with long term
exposure to solvents. You can minimise the risks associated with
exposure to solvents by using the correct construction safety equipment such as PPE and breathing apparatus.

Safety First Manufacturing Ltd are suppliers of a wide range of PPE and construction safety equipment.