With so many materials involved in any given construction work, it’s no longer surprising that this industry is one of those that regularly have to deal with waste—which rangesUnfortunately, these from building materials like wood, metals, concrete; and even hazardous waste that can come from processes such as demolition.
Asbestos is a very common type of demolition waste. Asbestos is highly toxic, and if the disposal of asbestos waste is poorly handled, a worker may be exposed to asbestos. The inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and even larynx cancer.
Construction workers are exposed to various kinds of waste regularly. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that their work environment is regularly checked for safety. For that, you can count on a CDM Consultant Lincolnshire, from Comptons Consultancy, to help you with risk assessments, developing strategies that best apply to the arrangement at your construction site, and the overall best practices to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the workplace.
Demolition waste can be classified into different types. During a demolition, nails, bricks, pieces of wood, and other building materials form part of the so-called “demolition waste” though they are not toxic in and of themselves. Then there’s also the rubble, the rocks, dust, dirt, and even tree stumps—things that also get removed during the demolition process. These are called “dredging materials.”
There are also specific demolition wastes that are considered hazardous. Examples include materials that contain asbestos, items containing lead, aerosol cans, paint thinners, oil-based paint, treated wood, and many others. Handling hazardous wastes like the ones mentioned above requires precision and skill as these wastes can pose harm to people’s health, particularly the health of the staff and employees on the demolition site. Of course, this concern also extends to the health of those who are within proximity to the area.
In the UK, the government has outlined specific guidelines on proper waste management. If you are looking for a trusted waste management company that can help you handle demolition waste and other types of commercial waste, visit https://www.wastesavingexperts.co.uk/ to find out about their waste management London services.
Most demolition waste is inert and safe to be around. However, some types of waste can be hazardous for your health and require extra care when being disposed of. Especially if the building being demolished was old.
Potentially toxic waste left found in demolition sites include:
- Asbestos;
- Lead from paint or pipes;
- Mercury from lamps;
- Switches and relays;
- Rot, fungus, and mold from old wooden buildings.
Disposing of any of these materials may require special care, both for personal health reasons and for legal reasons. There will likely be clear regulations in your region as to what must be done with demolition waste.
Most construction companies avoid having to navigate through the hoops of waste removal by simply hiring an outsider contractor to handle it for them. For hire waste removing companies will often bring their own machinery and equipment in to collect what needs to be disposed of.
If you need assistance, Harlex Haulage Services offers waste removal and plant hire in Kent.