Al-Bayati, A J and Al-Zubaidi, H A (2018) Inventory of nanomaterials in construction products for safety and health. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 144(9): 06018004, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Construction workers face the possibility of exposure to nanomaterials, which are particles smaller than asbestos. Nanomaterials exposure is expected to increase in coming years because of the advantages and desirable characteristics of nanoconstruction products. The lack of knowledge and preparedness in the construction industry for this technology is apparent. There are few research studies in the United States that have evaluated the potential safety and health risks of construction nanomaterials on the construction workforce. The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) has built a database containing more than 400 construction products in the United States that may contain nanomaterials. This paper investigates the nature of the nanoparticles in these construction products. Additionally, a sample of the possible safety and health hazards affecting construction workers is provided. The findings confirm the industry's lack of preparedness regarding the potential risks of construction nanomaterials, which may create or exacerbate unsafe conditions. Finally, the paper points out the necessity of communicating the potential hazards of nanoparticles to the construction workforce in contact with these products.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | inventory, database, construction industry, construction worker, health risk, United States, health hazard, face, exposure, construction product |
| Subjects: | environmental health, environmental hazards, industry analysis, data management, Geography, inventory management, public and environmental health, economic analysis, psychology, practitioner |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Supply Chain Management, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here