Table 4 Health risks of the construction workers.

Back pain and muscle discomfort

Statements from nine concrete mixers and concrete material bearers collectively connote that they suffer from back pain. Another worker shared that he experienced injuries in his buttocks while using a slippery ladder to go upstairs. Additionally, while carrying heavy materials, one worker experienced muscle discomfort, which is common among new workers.

Cuts on hands and legs and scratches on the skin

Workers reported that using pointed materials such as saws, drills, and knives can lead to cuts and scratches. Two workers, a bricklayer and a plasterer, experienced several minor finger cuts and cuts on various parts of their hands while using a saw to cut bars, cartoon bags, and polythene bags. A total of fourteen workers also asserted that contact with rough objects creates scratches on their different body parts.

Injuries to knees, ankles, and other joints

One worker, aged over forty years, mentioned that he had suffered from a knee and ankle sprain. He experienced such injuries while assisting others in lifting a heavy concrete mixer machine. Another worker reported that he sprained his left hand while breaking a brick to place on a corner of a wall.

Bruises and swelling

One worker reported, “While I was running with concrete on a pot, I slipped and fell down on an uneven floor. My right thigh and the palm of my right hand sustained bruises as a result.” A brick-setting mason shared, “While I was setting bricks on a wall, one brick fell on my foot. I suffered from bruises and swollen toes on my left leg. I am still experiencing pain.”

Fractures in fingers and bones break

One worker, who usually bears construction materials, said, ‘I experienced a fracture on my middle finger of the right hand, when taking bricks from the ground floor to the upper floor a couple of years ago.’ Another worker, who specializes in plastering, shared a story of a nearly missed bone break.

Head injuries

One building owner said, ‘I see workers putting concrete materials on their heads and elevating to the upper floors. This way of working can lead them to experience head injuries.’ Contractors also expressed that head injuries happen when workers remain unaware during structural framing for roof construction.

Issues with the eyes

Several workers reported that they are currently suffering from itchy and watery eyes due to exposure to sand, cements, and other construction-related dust. Watery eyes are common for the concrete mixers and plasterers, as they always deal with masonry mortar.

Skin diseases

Most of the workers have suffered from itching, eczema, or other skin conditions during their working lives. Contractors reported that skin diseases occur as they use cement, sand, and other dusty materials and products. Workers further shared that the presence of waste and waterlogging in construction sites increases the likelihood of skin diseases.

Respiratory problems

Exposure to construction-related dust and other particles on the work sites causes respiratory conditions such as difficulty breathing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and asthma-like symptoms. Few respondents, aged more than forty, revealed that they suffer from asthma-like symptoms that increase at work.

Headache and vertigo

Respondents shared that headaches and vertigo are common among them. During interviews, we found that four workers, not included in this study, suffered from these diseases. Workers experience these health symptoms due to working in a confined space (a room with inadequate ventilation in hot weather), the loud noise of various machines, repetitive motions, and strenuous physical labour.

Mental health conditions

Construction workers have shared that they consistently experience stress and anxiety. Despite their exhaustion, contractors regularly pressurize them to perform more work. They compel them to stay at work for extended hours without considering their physical strength. Building owners also admitted that mental health conditions, such as abnormal behaviours, stress, anxiety, and depression, can emerge in workers, when they work in a very stressful and heated environment without getting adequate rest and financial compensation.