Module 7 Study Guide

Health Hazards in Construction

Module 7 Health Hazards in Construction: Study Guide

Module Learning Objectives

1. Identify the different types of hazards at your work.
2. Recognize unsafe working conditions.
3. Protect yourself from health hazards.
4. Fix or report unsafe conditions.

Module Summary

Learning Objective 1. Identify the different types of hazards at your work.

Chemicals can affect your health through:

• Inhalation
• Absorption
• Injection
• Ingestion

Bottled or contained chemicals should be labeled with related symbols and warnings so the
hazard is clear. There might also be instructions for how to handle or store the chemical.

Biological hazards, or biohazards, are living things that could affect your health and include:
• Infections
• Parasites
• Viruses
• Bites or stings from animals
• Toxic plants

Ergonomic hazards are a type of physical hazard that affect your muscles, bones, and
joints. Examples include:
• Straining to lift and carry heavy loads can cause back pain.
• Hand tools, especially ones that vibrate like jackhammers, can cause carpal tunnel
syndrome.
• You might strain a tendon, where your muscles connect to your bones.
• Slipping and falling can easily cause a sprain.
• You might get a more complex injury that permanently disables you.

Physical hazards are anything that can harm you through contact and include:
• Loud noise
• Hot or cold weather

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Health Hazards in Construction

• Radiation
• Vibration

Psychosocial hazards include working conditions that affect your mental and emotional health
and come from internal or social stress.

Psychosocial hazards, or work stressors, can affect your judgment and even lead to long-term
mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

Learning Objective 2. Recognize unsafe working conditions.

You might find unexpected chemical hazards while working. Strange smells are one warning
sign. If the hazard comes from a leak, you might hear a hissing noise as the chemical gas
escapes into the air.

Construction work involves lots of forceful, repeated movements in awkward positions. It’s
your responsibility to know your body’s limits and look out for your own safety.

Common ergonomic hazards include:

• Vibrating tools
• Repeated motions
• Standing still for a long time
• Tasks that require a lot of force
• Awkward movements and poses
• Hard-to-reach materials and tools

Learning Objective 3. Protect yourself against health hazards.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from hazards.

Chemical hazards
There are several ways you can protect yourself and your
coworkers from chemical hazards:
• Use nonhazardous materials if possible.
• Look for warning labels, signal words, and
instructions on hazardous materials.
• Ventilate all work areas before and during
construction work.
• Listen for any hissing sounds. These may be from a
gas leak.
• If you smell something strange, get away and report
it.
• Wear the right PPE. This might include a respirator if
you’re trained to use it.

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Biological hazards
Ergonomic hazards
Physical hazards
Psychosocial hazards
Learning Objective 4. Fix or report unsafe conditions.
It’s up to you and your coworkers to work together to monitor your workplace.
If you notice any unsafe or unhealthy conditions, bring them up with your supervisor or safety
officer so they can address them.
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Module 7 Study Guide
Health Hazards in Construction
Ways to protect yourself against biological hazards include:
• Safety training.
• Wearing PPE.
• Hand washing.
• Engineering controls (i.e., exhaust fans).
• Using risk assessment to help you and your team plan to
avoid biohazards on the job.
Ways to protect yourself from ergonomic hazards include:
• Changing work scheduling to avoid too much
overtime.
• Using the right tools for the task.
• Using mechanical lifting equipment.
• Avoiding working with vibrating tools and sharp
edges.
• Using ergonomic chairs and tools.
• Maintaining correct posture.
Taking time to stretch at the beginning of and during shifts
as needed.
To protect yourself from physical hazards, you can:
• Take safety training.
• Make sure tools and equipment have guards to
protect against sharp edges and pinch points.
• Put a barrier around hazards like radiation and
machinery.
• Reduce noise and vibrations at work.
• Check the weather and dress appropriately and
have a safety plan for the weather.
• Wear PPE.
To protect yourself from psychosocial hazards, if anything
feels wrong or you need help, consider talking to your
supervisor or EHS staff. You can also reach out to the
human resources (HR) team and see if your company
provides an employee assistance program (EAP).
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Health Hazards in Construction

Knowledge Checks
1. Which of the following should you do to avoid ergonomic hazards? (Choose all that
apply.)
A. Make sure all tools have guards.
B. Wear PPE.
C. Avoid working with vibrating tools.
D. Maintain correct posture.

2. You walk onto a new job site and encounter a weird smell. Which type of hazard are you
most likely encountering?
A. Biological
B. Chemical
C. Ergonomic
D. Physical

Key Terms and Definitions

Please review the cards below. The key term is listed on the front. Click on the card to reveal the
definition.

Key Term Definition

Biohazard Infectious agents presenting a risk of death,
injury, or illness to employees
Carpal tunnel syndrome A condition involving compression of the
median nerve in the wrist that results in
tingling, discomfort, and numbness in the
thumb, index, and long fingers
Chemical hazard A harmful chemical, including gases, liquids,
or dust, that can get into the body through
the nose, mouth, or skin
Ergonomics Fitting a job to a person
Sprain Damage done to the muscles of a joint
Work stressor Harmful physical and emotional effects when
job requirements do not match workers’
resources or needs

Resources, Sources, and Links

1. Heat Stress Guide: https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/guides/heat-
stress

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Health Hazards in Construction

2. Guidance for Hazard Determination for Compliance with the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard: https://www.osha.gov/hazcom/ghd053107
3. Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances: https://www.osha.gov/chemical-hazards
4. Ergonomics: https://www.osha.gov/ergonomics
5. Personal Protective Equipment: https://www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment

Answer Key
1. Which of the following should you do to avoid ergonomic hazards? (Choose all that
apply.)
A. Make sure all tools have guards. (Incorrect. Tool guards don’t help with
ergonomic hazards.)
B. Wear PPE. (Incorrect. PPE doesn’t help with ergonomic hazards.)
C. Avoid working with vibrating tools. (Correct. This is one way to avoid ergonomic
hazards.)
D. Maintain correct posture. (Correct. This is one way to avoid ergonomic hazards.)

2. You walk onto a new job site and encounter a weird smell. Which type of hazard are you
most likely encountering?
A. Biological (Incorrect. Strange smells are usually not associated with biological
hazards.)
B. Chemical (Correct. Smell is often associated with chemical hazards.)
C. Ergonomic (Incorrect. Strange smells are not associated with ergonomic
hazards.)
D. Physical (Incorrect. Strange smells are not associated with physical hazards.)

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