Two-thirds of construction workers feel industry is not doing enough
A new campaign to help air quality has launched after a survey by the Considerate Constructors Scheme found there were national concerns about the industry鈥檚 attitude to pollution.
The 鈥楽potlight on鈥ir pollution鈥 campaign has been designed to help raise awareness and understanding of how the construction industry can address the issue of air pollution from their activities in and around construction sites.
The survey, which involved over 600 respondents from across the UK and Irish construction industries, revealed while 91% of respondents said air pollution was a nationwide issue nearly two thirds felt industry was not doing enough to tackle the issue.
And only 39% had an average understanding of the regulations surrounding air pollution.
Edward Hardy, the scheme鈥檚 chief executive, said, 鈥40,000 deaths a year are linked to air pollution in the UK鈥 and construction was a significant contributor to air pollution immediate action was necessary.
He added: 鈥淚t is essential for the industry to put measures in place to clean up our air by working together to reduce our impact on air quality.鈥
The long-term health problems such as asthma and cancer, as well as the deaths, caused by poor air quality had an annual economic impact of more than 拢20bn, according to the scheme.
The campaign will provide industry with awareness raising posters to be put up on site as well as regulatory information and best practice case studies. It will also feature guidance from organisations such as the Institute of Air Quality Management.
The Institution of Civil Engineers has partnered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme on the campaign.
Surveys key findings
- 91% said air pollution is a nationwide issue
- 88% said the importance of minimising air pollution is being communicated to the workforce on their site
- 64% said industry was not doing enough to tackle this issue
- 62% said their site has appropriate measures in place to address air pollution
- 56% have a good or detailed understanding of air pollution
- 39% have an average understanding of the regulations surrounding air pollution
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