Skip to main content

Health Impacts of Construction Workers: A Short Introduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Ecological and Health Effects of Building Materials

Abstract

Construction workers are the key and indispensable contributors to every construction project. For many years, the construction industry has been documented, having a great possibility of occupational illnesses, injuries and accidents. Such threats of construction workers can result in social problems and low productivity. Accordingly, construction workers’ well-being ought to be extremely self-addressed to boost competency and potency. The factors like rising temperature and warmth stress risks within the dynamic climate state of affairs may doubtlessly have an effect on the workers globally, particularly those with strenuous work in tropical settings. Filth generated by construction activities deeply affects air quality and adversely affects the health of people residing near to construction sites. All through this book chapter, the authors aim to investigate the factors that have an effect on construction workers, continuing health supported by a scientific review of revealed research within the vicinity of construction. Conclusions from the study can give solid evidence of the causes and results of construction workers’ future health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bakke B, Stewart P, Ulvestad B, Eduard W (2001) Dust and gas exposure in tunnel construction work. AIHAJ-Am Ind Hyg Assoc 62(4):457–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Beaudry C, Lavoué J, Sauvé JF, Bégin D, SenhajiRhazi M, Perrault G, Gérin M (2013) Occupational exposure to silica in construction workers: a literature-based exposure database. J Occup Environ Hyg 10(2):71–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatteis CM (2012) Age-dependent changes in temperature regulation–a mini review. Gerontology 58(4):289–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Bock M, Schmidt A, Bruckner T, Diepgen TL (2003) Occupational skin disease in the construction industry. Br J Dermatol 149(6):1165–1171

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschman JS, van der Molen HF, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MH (2012) Musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers: a one-year follow-up study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 13(1):1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschman JS, Van der Molen HF, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MHW (2013) Psychosocial work environment and mental health among construction workers. Appl Ergon 44(5):748–755

    Google Scholar 

  • Change IPOC (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Agenda 6(07):333

    Google Scholar 

  • Cherrie JW, Semple S, Brouwer D (2004) Gloves and dermal exposure to chemicals: proposals for evaluating workplace effectiveness. Ann Occup Hyg 48(7):607–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowe J, Wesseling C, Solano BR, Umaña MP, Ramírez AR, Kjellstrom T, Nilsson M (2013) Heat exposure in sugarcane harvesters in Costa Rica. Am J Ind Med 56(10):1157–1164

    Google Scholar 

  • Everatt RP, Smolianskienė G, Tossavainen A, Cicėnas S, Jankauskas R (2007) Occupational asbestos exposure among respiratory cancer patients in Lithuania. Am J Ind Med 50(6):455–463

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández MD, Quintana S, Chavarría N, Ballesteros JA (2009) Noise exposure of workers of the construction sector. Appl Acoust 70(5):753–760

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleischer NL, Tiesman HM, Sumitani J, Miz T, Amarnath KK, Bayakly AR, Murphy MW (2013) Public health impact of heat-related illness among migrant farmworkers. Am J Prev Med 44(3):199–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Gubernot DM, Anderson GB, Hunting KL (2015) Characterizing occupational heat-related mortality in the United States 2000–2010: an analysis using the census of fatal occupational injuries database. Am J Ind Med 58(2):203–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson LL, Rosenberg HR (2010) Preventing heat-related illness among agricultural workers. J Agromed 15(3):200–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaukiainen A, Martikainen R, Riala R, Reijula K, Tammilehto L (2008) Work tasks chemical exposure and respiratory health in construction painting. Am J Ind Med 51(1):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim HB, Shim JY, Park B, Lee YJ (2018) Long-term exposure to air pollutants and cancer mortality: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15(11):2608

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjellstrom T (2009) Climate change direct heat exposure, health and well-being in low and middle-income countries. Global Health Action 2

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjellstrom HI, Lemke B (2009) Workplace heat stress health and productivity–an increasing challenge for low and middle-income countries during climate change. Glob Health Action 2(1):2047

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowalska M, Skrzypek M, Kowalski M, Cyrus J, Ewa N, Czech E (2019) The relationship between daily concentration of fine particulate matter in ambient air and exacerbation of respiratory diseases in Silesian agglomeration Poland. Int J Environ Res Public Health 16(7):1131

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon N, Song K, Lee HS, Kim J, Park M (2018) Construction noise risk assessment model focusing on construction equipment. J Constr Eng Manag 144(6):04018034

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon SW, Adler PS (2014) Social capital: maturation of a field of research. Acad Manag Rev 39(4):412–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Blond JS, Woskie S, Horwell CJ, Williamson BJ (2017) Particulate matter produced during commercial sugarcane harvesting and processing: a respiratory health hazard. Atmos Environ 149:34-46

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee SC, Kim JH, Hong JY (2019) Characterizing perceived aspects of adverse impact of noise on construction managers on construction sites. Build Environ 152:17–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin SM, Goldberg M (2000) Clinical evaluation and management of lead-exposed construction workers. Am J Ind Med 37(1):23–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Wang R, Cao S, Chen Y, Huang W (2016) A method for low-frequency noise suppression based on mathematical morphology in microseismic monitoring. Geophysics 81(3):V159–V167

    Google Scholar 

  • Love PE, Davis PR, Chevis R, Edwards DJ (2011) Risk/reward compensation model for civil engineering infrastructure alliance projects. J Constr Eng Manag 137(2):127–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Maeda T, Kaneko SY, Ohta M, Tanaka K, Sasaki A, Fukushima T (2006) Risk factors for heatstroke among Japanese forestry workers. J Occup Health 48(4):223–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoudi S, Ghasemi F, Fam M, Soleimani E (2014) Framework for continuous assessment and improvement of occupational health and safety issues in construction companies. Saf Health Work 5(3):125–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Maqsoom A, Mughees A, Khan AK, Arif MI (2018) Labor productivity in construction industry: investigating the influence of internal psychosocial stressors. In: ICCREM 2018: analysis of real estate and the construction industry, pp 10–17. American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston VA

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin A, Karanika-Murray M, Biron C, Sanderson K (2016) The psychosocial work environment, employee mental health and organizational interventions: improving research and practice by taking a multilevel approach. Stress Health 32(3):201–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathee A, Oba J, Rose A (2010) Climate change impacts on working people (the HOTHAPS initiative): findings of the South African pilot study. Glob Health Action 3(1):5612

    Google Scholar 

  • Meehl GA, Tebaldi C (2004) More intense, more frequent, and longer lasting heat waves in the 21st century. Science 305(5686):994–997

    Google Scholar 

  • Meijer E, Kromhout H, Heederik D (2001) Respiratory effects of exposure to low levels of concrete dust containing crystalline silica. Am J Ind Med 40(2):133–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Morioka I, Miyai N, Miyashita K (2006) Hot environment and health problems of outdoor workers at a construction site. Ind Health 44(3):474–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Ødegaard F, Roos P (2014) Measuring the contribution of workers’ health and psychosocial work-environment on production efficiency. Prod Oper Manag 23(12):2191–2208

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver LC, Miracle-McMahill H, Littman AB, Oakes JM, GaitaJr RR (2001) Respiratory symptoms and lung function in workers in heavy and highway construction: a cross-sectional study. Am J Ind Med 40(1):73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Oswald AJ, Proto E, Sgroi D (2015) Happiness and productivity. J Law Econ 33(4):789–822

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandit B, Albert A, Patil Y, Al-Bayati AJ (2019) Impact of safety climate on hazard recognition and safety risk perception. Saf Sci 113:44–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Park H, Park HD, Jang JK (2016) Exposure characteristics of construction painters to organic solvents. Saf Health Work 7(1):63–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Park HR, Jeong GO, Lee SL, Kim JY, Kang SA, Park KY, Ryou HJ (2009) Workers intake too much salt from dishes of eating out and food service cafeterias: direct chemical analysis of sodium content. Nurs Res Pract 3(4):328

    Google Scholar 

  • Paschalidou AK, Kassomenos PA, Kelessis A (2016) Tracking the association between metro-railway construction works and PM levels in an urban Mediterranean environment. Sci Total Environ 568:1326–1332

    Google Scholar 

  • Petitti DB, Harlan SL, Chowell-Puente G, Ruddell D (2013) Occupation and environmental heat-associated deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona: a case-control study. PLoS ONE 8(5):e62596

    Google Scholar 

  • Sacks R, Rozenfeld O, Rosenfeld Y (2009) Spatial and temporal exposure to safety hazards in construction. J Constr Eng Manag 135(8):726–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanyal S, Rochereau T, Maesano CN, Com-Ruelle L, Annesi-Maesano I (2018) Long-term effect of outdoor air pollution on mortality and morbidity: a 12-year follow-up study for metropolitan France. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15(11):2487

    Google Scholar 

  • Seixas NS, Goldman B, Sheppard L, Neitzel R, Norton S, Kujawa SG (2005) Prospective noise induced changes to hearing among construction industry apprentices. Occup Environ Med 62(5):309–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Spielholz P, Davis G, Griffith J (2006) Physical risk factors and controls for musculoskeletal disorders in construction trades. J Constr Eng Manag 132(10):1059–1068

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson DS, Carter K, Grant F (2017) Unpacking cohort social ties: the appropriateness of perceived social capital to graduate early career performance in construction project teams. Int J Constr Educ Res 13(4):299–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmerman JG, Heederik D, Spee T, Smit LA (2014) Skin symptoms in the construction industry: occurrence and determinants. Am J Ind Med 57(6):660–668

    Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Health and Human Services (1986) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-NIOSH

    Google Scholar 

  • Valero E, Sivanathan A, Bosché F, Abdel-Wahab M (2016) Musculoskeletal disorders in construction: a review and a novel system for activity tracking with body area network. Appl Ergon 54:120–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Varghese BM, Barnett AG, Hansen AL, Bi P, Hanson-Easey S, Heyworth JS, Pisaniello DL (2019) The effects of ambient temperatures on the risk of work-related injuries and illnesses: evidence from Adelaide Australia 2003–2013. Environ Res 170:101–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang D, Dai F, Ning X (2015) Risk assessment of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in construction: state-of-the-art review. J Constr Eng Manag 141(6):04015008

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiang J, Bi P, Pisaniello D, Hansen A (2014) Health impacts of workplace heat exposure: an epidemiological review. Ind Health 52(2):91–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan D, Zhang T, Su J, Zhao LL, Wang H, Fang XM, Yu LY (2018) Structural variation in the bacterial community associated with airborne particulate matter in Beijing China during hazy and non hazy days. Appl Environ Microbiol 84(9)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yorio PL, Wachter JK (2014) The impact of human performance focused safety and health management practices on injury and illness rates: do size and industry matter? Saf Sci 62:157–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z, Goh YM, Li Q (2015) Overview and analysis of safety management studies in the construction industry. Saf Sci 72:337–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuluaga CM, Namian M, Albert A (2016) Impact of training methods on hazard recognition and risk perception in construction. In: Construction research congress, pp 2861–2871

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are highly thankful to the Department of Botany, University of Kashmir Srinagar – 190006, J&K, India, for providing the facility and also thankful to those who made their literature available for compiling the chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Rehman, S., Sheergojri, I.A., Rehman, I.U., Islam, T., Nanda, S.A., Rather, R.A. (2022). Health Impacts of Construction Workers: A Short Introduction. In: Malik, J.A., Marathe, S. (eds) Ecological and Health Effects of Building Materials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76073-1_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76073-1_19

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-76072-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-76073-1

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics