PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS SECTOR, Eaubonne
Which Portable Gas Detector Is Best Suited for the Construction Industry?
From small-scale craftsmen to corporate giants, such as Vinci, Bouygues or Eiffage, construction companies operate everywhere (individual or collective housing, roads, bridges, pipelines, buildings and other public facilities). Several trades are involved, including artisans, masons, plumbers, carpenters, tilers, heating engineers, carpenters, electricians and site managers, and these people are exposed to many occupational hazards, of which the most critical ones are those related to confined spaces and underground work.
Construction sites such as tunnelling, sewerage networks, quarry excavations or parking lots combine the general risks associated with the construction sector (driving machines, falls, etc.) with those specific to confined spaces. In particular, humidity and air pollution amplify chemical hazards. In confined spaces, clean air quickly becomes scarce due to the presence of concrete and silica, exhaust gases and all kinds of fumes. Risks of intoxication due to poor air quality are high, requiring the use of personal protective equipment.
Chemical Risks Associated With the Construction Sector
Chemical Risks Associated With the Construction Sector
Exhaust fumes can drastically increase the levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) in the workplace atmosphere, leading to acute poisoning that can range from headaches and nausea to unconsciousness.
Depending on the construction site, organic matter may undergo fermentation and generate toxic gases in a poorly ventilated area. Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), for instance, is very toxic in small doses. It is rapidly fatal at high concentrations and represents a significant risk. It is frequently found in wastewater treatment systems such as sewers, which are confined spaces where fermentation gases accumulate. Methane gas is also a major hazard. This colourless and odourless gas causes asphyxiation. To ensure proper safety conditions in confined spaces and while carrying out underground work, you must be warned of the presence of any of these toxic gases. This is precisely what portable multi-gas detectors are for.
Portable Multi-gas Detectors for the Construction Sector
The primary function of this personal protective equipment is to save lives. Fitted with several sensors, they monitor the concentration of these dangerous gases throughout the entire intervention. Four-gas detectors measure carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and flammable gas (methane...) levels, as well as that of Oxygen (O2).
These devices have two primary purposes: permanent monitoring - this is known as natural diffusion – and measurement prior to an intervention, thanks to a device equipped with a pump.
