Relationship with health and safety

Construction has a substantial impact on the environment. Much energy is used in the: production of materials such as cement, steel, aluminium, wood products, plastics, and paints; movement of materials and components to, and on site, and running and operating of plant and equipment on site. Construction waste, resulting from the construction process, results in the waste of land resources and the contamination of natural resources and ecologies. A further dimension to waste is the use of hazardous chemical substances (HCSs), which results in hazardous waste. Unnecessary water usage constitutes a further form of waste, which has an indirect impact on the environment. A range of environment related legislation applies to development and construction, and many clients are setting environment related requirements. Although the achievement of ISO 14001 EMS certification is the optimum standard to strive for, environmental related interventions and documentation such as, policy, mission statement, programmes, rules and emergency procedures, are relatively easy to evolve, communicate and implement. International literature indicates that optimum concern for the environment and EMS certification result in enhanced image and marketability, optimal use of resources, and cost savings. Given the abovementioned, Phase 2 of the study ‘Environmental practices in construction’ was initiated to determine, among other, GC practices and perceptions. The salient findings indicate: a low level of attention to the environment, particularly with respect to documentation, the separation and recycling of waste, and medical surveillance; measures to control / reduce various occurrences that impact on the environment can be deemed to be prevalent, and benefits do accrue from addressing the environment.