Safety and risk management

In construction, waste management is extremely important. It's how we stay safe, sustainable and good to our neighbours. Take this course to learn how we dispose, recycle and reuse waste.

What better way to reduce waste than by preventing having one in the first place?


Estimating Need & Purchasing Materials


By estimating your need and materials, you will also estimate your waste which can reduce costs significantly as it will help identify how you can save money on materials purchasing and
waste disposal.


You can save cost on materials purchase and waste
disposal by only ordering what you need.


Estimating Need & Purchasing Materials

Recycling & Reuse


Wood
Timbers, large dimension lumber, plywood, flooring, molding, lumber longer than 6 feet. Clean, untreated wood can be recycled, re-milled into flooring, or chipped/ground to make engineered board and boiler fuel


Wallboard
Markets for recycled drywall include new drywall manufacture, cement manufacture, and agriculture. Unused drywall can be returned to a supplier, donated, or sold.


Asphalt Paving
Asphalt is crushed and recycled back into new asphalt. Markets for recycled asphalt paving include aggregate for new asphalt
hot mixes and sub-base for paved road


Land Clearing Residuals
Trees and brush—can be recycled as compost or mulch; soil can be reused as fill and cover


Metals
Common metals include steel, aluminum, and copper. Local
metal scrap yards or recyclers that accept metal materials are typically accessible. Metals are melted down and reformed into metal products. Markets are well established for metals


Recycling & Reuse

Learn how to minimize waste by protecting materials from water damage caused by storms


Storm-Safe Protection


Storm is the main reason materials get water damaged during construction which can often cause irreparable damage and can put on additional waste


Construction materials are at risk for water damage from the time they leave the factory to the time the building is weather-proofed.


Some materials can withstand limited periods of exposure to the water, but others can become permanently damaged,


Proper sloping to prevent water from pooling
Priming of materials, especially wood, to prevent water absorption
Temporary protection such as pallets, tarps or separate storage building
Schedule delivery after the building or a portion of the building is weather tight
Drying wet materials before finishing or enclosing


How to Protect Materials from Storm Damage


How can you protect materials from Storm Damage?


Storm-Safe Protection

Disposal is the only option left when materials cannot be reduced, reused or recycled.


Disposal


Disposal of construction waste is the process that moves the debris to a state from which it cannot bring any sustainable or environmental issues.


The disposal procedure must be guided and surveyed properly by the environmental agency of the region.


The amount of hazardous waste produced and the amount to dispose of must be mentioned the to the respective authorities. It must also be supervised throughout its packing, transportation, treatment, and disposal.


Disposal

Spill Management


A spill is the discharge of hazardous or regulated substances into the environment.


Potential hazards created by a spill vary for humans, vegetation, water resources, fish and wildlife and depend on nature of the material, the amount spilled, the location of the release, weather conditions, and the time of year.


The most common spills are small and easily contained. Spills of fuel and lubricants during construction can occur from fueling, hydraulic hose breaks, mechanical damage or vandalism.


Stop operations
2. Identify the product - check container design, warning labels, markings, etc.
3. Prevent personnel from approaching the site and keep them at a distance sufficiently removed that they will not be injured by, or cause, a fire or explosion.
4. Stop the flow at the source - reduce or terminate the motion of product without endangering anyone.
5. Assess the extent of the spill.
6. Report the spill to Construction Site Manager & Environmental Monitor. Provide basic
information such as location of spill and amount.


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free course

Waste Management Safety

Waste Management Safety Lessons

Course overview

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