International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation

Civil engineer

This datasheet is one of the International Datasheets on Occupations. It is intended for those professionally concerned with health and safety at work: occupational physicians and nurses, safety engineers, hygienists, education and Information specialists, inspectors, employers' representatives, workers' representatives, safety officers and other competent persons.

This datasheet lists, in a standard format, different hazards to which persons practising this occupation may be exposed in the course of their normal work. This datasheet is a source of information rather than advice. With the knowledge of what causes injuries and diseases, is easier to design and implement suitable measures towards prevention.

This datasheet consists of four pages:

• Page 1: Information on the most relevant hazards related to the occupation.
• Page 2: A more detailed and systematized presentation on the different hazards related to the job with indicators for preventive measures (marked and explained on the third page).
• Page 3: Suggestions for preventive measures for selected hazards.
• Page 4: Specialized information, relevant primarily to occupational safety and health professionals and including information such as a brief job description, a list of tasks, notes and references.

A civil engineer plans, designs and directs civil engineering projects, such as roads, railways, airports, bridges, harbours, canals, dams, irrigation systems, pipelines and power-plants. Civil engineers are involved in research, planning, administration, supervision, implementation and project management. They may do work in the following fields: construction; communication engineering; environmental engineering; hydraulics and water resources; soil mechanics; building technology; building administration; etc.

• Falls from elevated surfaces/levels or from ladders; falling into a cellar, shaft, trench or open pit; falling while working on a project site – from cliffs, slopes, into pits, tunnels, etc.
• Injury/death as a result of collapse of an excavation, trench, floor or wall of a building or auxiliary structure; collapse/buckling of components in a structure that is being built; collapse and slide of piles of materials or of stored building equipment; landslides; etc./li>
• Risk of being hit by heavy mechanical equipment/vehicles working on a sites
• Electrocution as a result of unintentional contact with “live” electric wires in buildings, during inspection and supervision rounds
• Contact with and exposure to extreme temperatures (during outdoors work, at extreme temperatures, etc.); or cold/frost bites
• Potential exposure to noxious dust while staying at the construction site
• Musculoskeletal system injuries, esp. those stemming from work postures, prolonged driving, etc.

Specific preventive measures can be seen by clicking on the respective in the third column of the table.

Accident hazards	Falls from elevated surfaces/levels (bridges, dams, high floor of a building – veranda/surface without railing, roofs, etc.) or from ladders; falling into a cellar, shaft, trench or open pit; falling while working on a project site – falls from cliffs and slopes, falls into pits, tunnels, etc.
	Slip, trip or fall on the level
	Injury/death as a result of collapse of an excavation, trench, floor or wall of a building or of an auxiliary structure; collapse/buckling of components in a structure that is being built; collapse and slide of piles of materials or of stored building equipment; landslides of soil and stones
	Injury caused by falling objects, by stepping on sharp objects, and by impact and collision with sharp or protruding objects
	Risk of being hit by heavy mechanical equipment/vehicles working on a site
	Contact with and exposure to extreme temperatures (during outdoors work, at extreme temperatures); or cold/frost bites
	Electrocution as a result of unintentional contact with “live” electric wires during inspection and supervision rounds through the construction area
	Eye injury, caused by flying splinters/particles of stone and metal, or created throughout demolition and building operations in the area
	Injury as a result of a fire and/or explosion of flammable materials at the site (bitumen, tar, solvents)
	Increased risk of traffic accidents, when working simultaneously on numerous sites, requiring much additional driving
Physical hazards	Exposure to strong and continuous noise in work areas (emanating from compressors, pneumatic hammers, vibrators, and similar sources)
	Exposure to various environmental factors, inc. extreme heat or cold, strong solar radiation, heat-load, drying, excessive moisture content, increased or reduced environmental air-pressure, etc.
Chemical hazards	Potential hazard of being exposed to noxious dust (such as asbestos dust released during demolition of structures, cement dust, paint-removing chemicals,..) when staying on the work site
	Dermatitis caused by contact with irritating and allergenic materials (e.g. – cement dust)
	While visiting the work site an engineer may be exposed to hazards created by other workers – for example: exposure to organic solvents, thinners and paint removers when at the same time a paint job is being performed at the site
Biological hazards	There are no specific biological hazards, except potential exposure to infectious diseases, like influenza, as a result of close contact with construction workers that contracted such diseases; or development of dermatitis and irritation as a result of drinking polluted water at the site, contact with allergenic vegetation or with insects (inc. wasps and bees), snakes and similar creatures located on the work site.
Ergonomic, psychosocial and organizational factors	Musculoskeletal injuries, esp. those stemming from work posture, from prolonged driving, etc.
	Environmental sources of physical and chemical inconvenience and suffering (e.g. – air pollution, bad odours, noxious noise, defective illumination, sick building syndrome, etc.).

	All worksurfaces should be properly installed in order to prevent their collapse/breakage, and to prevent people or objects falling out of them; they as well as all cavities and openings, must be securely fenced; safe and stable positioning of ladders is a must; all open pits, in the field and in the work areas must be safely fenced
	Wear safety-shoes with non-slip soles; it is also possible to roughen (by various techniques) all or some of the work surfaces
	All means for preventing worker injury should be applied prior to and during excavation, as well as before carrying out demolition works; compliance with the specific regulations dealing with excavation is a must
	Use personal protection equipment fit for protecting the whole body, inc. crashhelmets, safety shoes and goggles
	Work surfaces, floors, footpaths and similar passages will be free from protruding nails, binding wires, and all other obstacles
	Work clothes have to be fitted to the climatic conditions; in order to prevent dehydratation, all workers should drink enough water; use gloves and safety clothes according to need
	Wear safety shoes that have inherent isolation, and do not work with detective tools
	Use appropriate clothing and head covers, for protection against inconvenient climatic conditions, inc. solar radiation
	When necessary, consult with an ergonomist and/or environmental engineer.

Synonyms	Construction engineer; public works engineer.
Definitions and/or description	Plans, designs, and directs civil engineering projects, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation systems, pipelines, and power-plants: Analyzes reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, tests, and aerial photographs on soil composition, terrain, hydrological characteristics, and other topographical and geologic data to plan and design project. Calculates cost and determines feasibility of project based on analysis of collected data, applying knowledge and techniques of engineering, and advanced mathematics. Prepares or directs preparation and modification of reports, specifications, plans, construction schedules, environmental impact studies, and designs for project. Inspects construction site to monitor progress and ensure conformance to engineering plans, specifications, and construction and safety standards. May direct construction and maintenance activities at project site. May use computer-assisted engineering and design software and equipment to prepare engineering and design documents. May be designated according to specialty or product. [DOT].
Related and specific occupations	Building-engineer; building-contractor; building/construction foreman; building-inspector; building-supervisor; building-technician; environmental engineer; mason.
Tasks	Acquiring; adding; adjusting; advising; analyzing; arranging; boiling; calibrating; classifying; collecting; combusting; comparing; concentrating; connecting; consulting; controlling; copying; cutting; demonstrating; developing; diluting; discussing; dissolving; distributing; drying; evaporating; examination; exercising; exhibiting; extracting; filling; filtering; fixing; following-up; handling; heating; identifying; injecting; inserting; inspecting; instructing; investigating; invitation; keeping up-to-date; learning; lowering; maintaining; managing; marking; mixing; modeling; monitoring; operating; opening; planning; preparing; processing; pumping;; measuring; researching; repairing; reporting; sampling; searching; showing; separating; sorting; supervising; supplying; surveying; taking; testing; training; twinning; typing; updating; washing; weighing; writing.
Primary equipment used	Computers and software; drafting, designing and writing equipment; inspecting, measuring and testing equipment; front-wheel drive vehicle.
Workplaces where the occupation is common	Adjusting; administering; analyzing; approving (quality, payments,..); assisting; calculating; climbing; comparing; consulting; coordinating; designing; determining; discussing; drafting; evaluating; examining; explaining; follow-up; guiding; handling; inspecting (design, blueprints, sites,…); instructing; maintaining; measuring; ordering (equipment, materials,…); operating (computer); organizing (the work area); preparing (reports, samples, documents, sketches, plans,…); reporting; solving (problems – at the site); studying; supervising; surveying; tracing; verifying; writing (reports, worksheets, work orders,…).
Notes	Civil engineers are a keyfactor in the design and realization of projects. They are involved in the investigation, planning, administration, supervision and operation of projects. The civil engineer may be engaged in one or more of the following fields: construction engineering; transportation engineering; soil mechanics; environmental engineering; water resources and use; function and technology of building; building administration; and geodetic engineering.
References	1. Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 4th Ed., ILO, Geneva, 1998. 2. Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety, 3rd Ed., ILO, Geneva, 1983. 3. Occupational Disease - a Guide to their Prevention. DHEW- NIOSH Pub. 77-181,1977. 4. U.S. Dept. of Labor: Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), 4th. Ed., 1991. 5. King, R.W. and Hudson, R.: Construction Hazard and Safety Handbook, Butterworth Pub., London, 1985.

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