Sudden or progressive changes in the local environment often adversely affect the lives or living conditions of people. These people may then be forced to leave their homes. When environmental degradation occurs or natural hazards rapidly impact vulnerable areas, People may be forced to move. Relocation areas require proper infrastructure. This requires a land clearance and construction activities to be undertaken in a way that does not over compact soil. Management of construction debris, land clearance, excavation, and construction can expose chemical substances or by-products which can harm the health of humans, flora, and fauna.

Chemicals and pollutants have the same potential to harm all people. However, the very young, very old, sick, disabled, and people who are not able to read the local language are all particularly vulnerable.

Air pollution
Soil pollution
Water pollution
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystems
Impact on mental health

1. Air, water, soil pollution and harm to health from construction-related chemicals

2. Pollution and harm to the health from crisis waste, construction waste, and naturally occurring hazardous substance

3. Harm to ecosystems.

1. Chemicals are often used for construction – these include caustic soda, concrete and plaster additives, solvents, paints, timber treatment chemicals, pesticides etc. and flammable substances such as propane which can cause burns

2. Chemicals (oils, gases,) and other hazardous substances (e.g. asbestos) are often present in crisis waste, construction debris, or already naturally present in the soil (e.g. arsenic, anthrax, radon). Excavation and construction processes can release the soil or introduce them into the air, water, soil, exposing them to people, flora, and fauna

3. Exposure to chemicals and other hazardous substances affects the health of humans, flora, and fauna. Damage to flora and fauna can disrupt or destroy entire ecosystems upon which humans ultimately depend for health, natural resources, or wellbeing.

1. Chemicals are often used for construction – these include caustic soda, concrete and plaster additives, solvents, paints, timber treatment chemicals, pesticides, etc. and flammable substances such as propane which can cause burns

2. Chemicals (oils, gases,) and other hazardous substances (e.g. asbestos) are often present in crisis waste, construction debris, or already naturally present in the soil (e.g. arsenic, anthrax, radon). Excavation and construction processes can release the soil or introduce them into the air, water, soil, exposing them to people, flora, and fauna

3. Exposure to chemicals and other hazardous substances affects the health of humans, flora, and fauna. Damage to flora and fauna can disrupt or destroy entire ecosystems upon which humans ultimately depend for health, natural resources, or wellbeing

1a. A list must be made of all chemicals proposed to be used for construction and a plan made to control their storage and use, to prevent accidental spillages, pollution or poisoning. This can include storing chemicals and paints in locked compounds or stores; storing intoxicating chemicals or gasses in free to air flowing locked cages; locking or strapping LPG bottles so they can’t fall and explode, and constructing bunds to capture any spillages and prevent leakages

1b. All people who may come in to contact with or use hazardous substances must be trained regarding their content, the threat they pose, their appropriate use, and their appropriate storage, as well as what to do if there is a spillage or unintentional ingestion

2a. Crisis waste and other construction waste should be assessed for the presence of chemicals and other hazardous substances (e.g. asbestos). Such hazardous waste should be appropriately separated, sorted and treated, or disposed of to ensure it is not introduced into the environment (air, water, soil)

2b. Chemicals and other hazardous substances may already be on the construction site – whether naturally occurring or from previous polluting activities. All sites should be assessed for the potential presence of harmful substances. If they are present they should be assessed to see whether they can be safely removed, treated, or contained and if not, then the site must not be used for shelter

3. Any identified chemicals and other hazardous substances should be assessed to ensure their potential impacts on human health and on the health of plants and animals are understood. Contact should be avoided where possible, e.g. through using equipment to remove, treat or isolate contaminants. If people have to handle hazardous materials then they must be provided with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Local hospitals should be advised of the presence of any known hazardous substances and treatment plans should be in place.

CASE STUDY: ACEH, INDONESIA POST-TSUNAMI HOUSING PROJECT

Houses in Aceh Besar District, Sumatra, Indonesia, were built after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, as well as a newly constructed seawall that was built as a coastal barrier to protect residents from future tsunamis and storms surges. Unfortunately, the site plan and design for the housing project overlooked the fact that a significant quantity of freshwater flows from inland areas toward the ocean during periods of heavy rainfall and becomes trapped by the seawall before it is released into the ocean.

The recurring floods damaged the newly constructed shelter, water and sanitation systems, and roads, and have affected residents’ health and quality of life. As a short-term fix, a costly drainage system was installed. To prevent these types of problems and added costs in the future, project planners need to ensure that there is coordinated planning among a range of stakeholders beyond the immediate project area and must pay particular attention to the broader environmental context.

FROM: https://www.sheltercluster.org/sites/default/files/docs/GRRT%204%20-%20Strategic%20Site%20Selection%20and%20Development.pdf

# of construction sites with effective control of substances hazardous to health plans developed and implemented

Prevention of environmental damage

Time for assessing hazardous substances and developing carefully managed plans for storage, control, and use. Time and cost of training personnel in their safe use, storage, disposal, clean-up, and patient treatment.