The role of construction in creating a safer, greener future

Construction has a fundamental role to play in creating the buildings and infrastructure society depends on. But as the industry works to meet ever-growing demand, there's also increasing pressure to reduce emissions and create healthier working environments.

From air and noise pollution to carbon emissions, the challenges are significant. The good news is that innovation is creating new opportunities to build safer, cleaner and more productive job sites, helping contractors support sustainability goals without compromising performance.

Key Takeaways

• Construction emissions, noise and workplace hazards can have a significant impact on both workers and surrounding communities
• Issues like air pollution remain a major global health challenge, contributing to millions of premature deaths every year
• Public authorities and major contractors have committed to zero-emission construction initiatives, but more still needs to be done
• Battery-powered equipment can help create cleaner and safer jobsites while supporting productivity

Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. As governments and businesses work towards ambitious net-zero targets, every industry must consider how it can reduce its environmental impact. Construction is no exception.

Buildings are responsible for approximately 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, with 11% originating from materials and construction activities. These statistics highlight the importance of adopting more sustainable construction practices and reducing emissions at every stage of the building process.

For the many parties involved – contractors, developers, public authorities and so on – sustainability is no longer simply a long-term ambition. Increasingly, it's a requirement for securing future projects and meeting procurement standards. And as environmental regulations inevitably become more strictly enforced, every cog in the construction wheel will have to play its part.

There is no safe amount of air pollution. The World Health Organization estimates that 4.2 million people die prematurely every year worldwide as a result of air pollution. The European Environment Agency estimated 417,000 premature deaths across Europe linked to air pollution exposure.

In England alone, long-term exposure to man-made air pollution was estimated to have an annual effect equivalent to 28,000 to 36,000 deaths, according to Public Health England in 2018.

Construction activity contributes to this wider challenge. In London, the industry is estimated to account for:

• 7% of NOx emissions

• 34% of PM10 emissions

• 15% of PM2.5 emissions

Many of these emissions originate from fossil fuel-powered machinery and generators. Exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter has been linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, reduced lung function and other long-term health conditions.

Reducing emissions on construction sites is therefore not only an environmental issue, but a matter of protecting the health of workers and local communities.

Air quality is only one part of the challenge facing the construction industry. Noise exposure continues to affect thousands of workers across Europe. The European Environment Agency estimates that long-term exposure to noise contributes to 12,000 premature deaths and 48,000 new cases of ischaemic heart disease every year. Construction workers are particularly vulnerable. Research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that:

• 51% of construction workers had been exposed to harmful noise

• 14% had experienced hearing difficulty

• 7% reported tinnitus

In addition, traditional construction equipment can create other workplace risks. Of the 61,000 self-reported non-fatal injuries suffered by construction workers each year, 26% were attributable to slips, trips or falls on the same level.

Creating safer job sites means addressing all of these issues together – reducing emissions, lowering noise levels, eliminating unnecessary hazards, and protecting workers from unavoidable hazards wherever possible.

Across Europe and beyond, governments and local authorities have been accelerating the transition to cleaner construction for some time.

Oslo has always been one of the most ambitious examples. The city established a target of achieving a 95% reduction in emissions by 2030 and committed to making all municipal construction sites zero-emission by 2025. By 2030, all construction activity in the city is expected to operate using zero-emission technology.

Cities including Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Helsinki are pursuing similar initiatives, while clean-air zones and net-zero commitments continue to expand across the UK.

At the same time, many major developers and contractors supported carbon reduction targets and campaigns, creating additional momentum behind the move towards cleaner construction methods.

Battery-powered equipment has a fundamental role to play in helping the construction industry reduce its environmental impact.

Unlike fossil fuel-powered alternatives, battery-powered equipment produces zero emissions at the point of use, helping improve air quality on site and reducing exposure to harmful pollutants.

But the benefits extend beyond emissions. Battery-powered equipment can also deliver:

• Lower noise levels

• Reduced vibration

• Greater mobility

• Fewer trip hazards from cables and hoses

• Safer working in enclosed spaces such as tunnels and trenches

The MILWAUKEE® MX FUEL™ range demonstrates the potential impact. The MX FUEL™ Cut-Off Saw can prevent more than 332kg of CO₂ emissions annually compared to direct petrol-driven alternatives. The MX FUEL™ Breaker can save over 2,433kg of CO₂, while the MX FUEL™ Tower Light can reduce emissions by more than 4,061kg of CO₂ per year.

Combined with lower maintenance requirements and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, battery-powered equipment offers a practical route towards cleaner, safer construction sites.