NOISE AND SILICA DUST AS KEY RISK FACTORS DURING EARTHWORKS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES

Construction sites involve different activities and operations, each contributing to various forms of pollution that elevate mortality rates and give rise to different occupational diseases. Earthworks include operations such as excavation, digging, and demolition, which generate high noise and silica dust. This research focuses on two key risk factors of every construction site – noise and silica. The aim of this research has a twofold effect: (1) to show measured levels of noise during earthworks with both a sound level meter (SLM) and a personal dosimeter, to establish how noise impacts the possibility of communication through communication devices, and to determine the negative impact of noise on human health with a recommendation of preventive measures; (2) to show that silica dust is a causative agent of serious respiratory diseases – such as silicosis, autoimmune disorders, infections, and other lung diseases – during the earthwork construction phase, using measured quantities from various studies, and to propose preventive measures that should be implemented. To lower the risk of noise and silica dust, it is necessary to represent their risk on a global level, with the intention to reduce worker exposure and prevent diseases like occupational hearing loss and silicosis through different research and innovation models.