Professional Documents
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Construction industry is the industry that concerns construction works and that
includes construction extension, installation, repair, maintenance, renewal,
removal, renovation, alteration, dismantling or demolition of:
Commissioning
CONSTRUCTION METHODS
Structures Earthworks
Runoff and
Underground Drainage
Works
Environmental Mitigation
Activities in the construction industry are complex, highly dispersed and resource
demanding. The industry contributes to the loss of important natural assets and
imposes severe impacts and stress on the environment.
Construction activities and practices that fail to control its impacts and the
environment can cause damage to rivers, lakes and environmentally sensitive
ecosystems, kill fish and aquatic life, upset ecological systems and wildlife
habitats, and result in contamination of land and groundwater. The impact on the
environment is particularly high when work is done on highland, on slopes, near
coastal areas, rivers and lakes. When construction occurs near built-up areas,
poor practices may result in noise and air pollution which may cause a nuisance
and affect the health of neighbouring communities.
Landslides and slope failure can occur at unstable slopes or when saturated with
water during heavy rainfalls.
The biological environment includes non-human animal and plant life, the
distribution and abundance of the various species and the habitats of
communities. Species forming a community are often interdependent so
that a direct environmental effect on one species is likely to have indirect
effects on either species.
Domestic waste can be found on construction sites which have base camps for
the workers on them. Domestic wastes need to be properly disposed of to avoid
the infestation of rodents, roaches and other pests. These pests bring with them
vector borne diseases such as cholera and rabies.
Although it may be necessary to store chemicals and fuel on project sites, this
inevitably creates an environmental risk. Spills can severely pollute waterways
and land. Reducing the quantities of chemicals and fuel stored on-site to
minimum practicable levels is desirable.