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Working in
the construction industry means you are constantly exposed to – and at risk of
inhaling – potentially dangerous substances, such as gases, dusts, mists, and
fumes. It’s important to protect yourself against respiratory hazards, as they
can adversely affect your health and even have long-term consequences. While
some substances may result in itchy eyes or skin irritation, others can cause
severe and potentially fatal health conditions including kidney damage, COPD, silicosis,
and lung cancer. According to OSHA, some respiratory hazards to watch
out for are:

  • Dusts
  • Metal
    fumes from welding and cutting
  • Solvent
    vapors from spray coatings
  • Infectious
    agents like bacteria
  • Oxygen
    deficiency when in confined spaces

With the proper precautions and
protections, you can minimize your risk of inhaling dangerous substances. Here
are some things you can do to keep your respiratory system healthy:

Monitor Work Areas

In all work situations, safety is
paramount, so it’s important for employers and employees to regularly monitor
work areas. While your workspace or site may look the same from one day to the
next, subtle changes can make a big difference when it comes to air quality. According
to OSHA, “Changes in operating procedures, temperature, air movement, humidity,
and work practices may influence the concentration of a substance in the work
area atmosphere.” It’s important to know the safety levels (if any) of all substances
in your space and what to do if the levels become unsafe.

Wear a Respirator

According to OSHA,
“a respirator is a protective device that covers the nose and mouth or the
entire face or head to guard the wearer against hazardous atmospheres.” You
must wear one whenever safety measures or work conditions are “not adequate to
prevent atmospheric contamination at the worksite.” Wearing just any respirator
is not enough, however; there are different respirators for different
situations, tasks, and conditions. The two primary types of respirators are: 1.
Air-purifying respirators, which filter out ambient air, and 2. atmosphere-supplying
respirators, which use filters to remove
harmful substances from the air. It’s important to wear the appropriate type of
respirator and to do frequent checks
of the oxygen and air cylinders to make sure they are fully charged and
operational.

Control the Dust

What is the one thing you are most
likely to inhale on a construction site? Dust! You may not see it, but it is
constantly around you. It is important to eliminate dust as it accumulates
rather than waiting until the end of the work day. Breathing in dust from
concrete, masonry, and rock can cause silicosis,
which is permanent damage to the lungs that can lead to severe complications or
even death. According to the Electronic
Library of Construction Occupational Safety & Health,
water is a great way to help minimize dust as it helps damp down dust clouds,
so be sure to have enough water available at all times.

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job? You can get access to Building Skills NY construction job and training
opportunities by checking out our Job Seekers
page.