OCC/General/TBT-OCC-001

Occupational Health Awareness

Occupational Health › General › Occupational Health Awareness

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Occupational ill health kills far more construction workers than accidents — around 3,700 deaths per year in the UK.
Common occupational diseases include lung cancer, silicosis, dermatitis, HAVS, and noise-induced hearing loss.
These conditions develop gradually over months or years, making them easy to overlook until damage is permanent.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to protect workers' health as well as their safety.
Health surveillance means regular medical checks for workers exposed to specific health hazards on site.
Construction workers are at high risk of mental health issues including stress, anxiety, and depression.
Drug and alcohol misuse impairs judgement and reaction times, increasing the risk of accidents on site.
Fatigue from long working hours reduces concentration and is a contributing factor in many site incidents.
Early detection through health surveillance can prevent permanent damage to lungs, skin, hands, and hearing.
Everyone has a role in looking after their own health and watching out for their workmates on site.

Silent killer	Occupational diseases develop invisibly over years — by the time symptoms appear, the damage is often irreversible.
Your future quality of life	Hearing loss, breathing difficulty, and chronic pain from occupational illness will affect you for the rest of your life.
Legal requirement	Employers must provide health surveillance for workers exposed to noise, vibration, dust, and hazardous substances.

Don't

Attend all health surveillance appointments arranged for your role or exposure type.
Report any symptoms such as tingling hands, skin rashes, or breathing difficulties early.
Use the correct PPE and controls to reduce exposure to dust, noise, and vibration.
Follow trigger time limits for vibrating tools and rotate tasks to reduce exposure.
Talk to your supervisor or a mental health first aider if you are struggling.
Take regular breaks and stay hydrated throughout each working shift.
Use welfare facilities to wash properly before eating, drinking, or smoking.
Know the signs of occupational ill health in yourself and your workmates.
Follow site drug and alcohol policies and never work while impaired.
Get enough sleep and report to work well rested and fit for duty.

DON'T skip health surveillance appointments — early detection prevents permanent damage.
DON'T ignore early symptoms — tingling, itching, coughing, or ringing ears are warning signs.
DON'T work without the required dust, noise, or vibration controls in place.
DON'T exceed vibration trigger times — take breaks and swap to low-vibration tools.
DON'T suffer in silence — seek help if your mental health is affecting you.
DON'T work through extreme fatigue — tiredness causes mistakes that lead to accidents.
DON'T eat or drink in the work area where you may ingest dust or chemicals.
DON'T assume occupational health problems will just go away on their own.
DON'T use drugs or alcohol before or during work shifts under any circumstances.
DON'T work excessive hours without proper rest breaks between shifts.

See also: HAVS (Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome) | Mental Health & Wellbeing on Site

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