General EHS Guidelines [Complete version] at: www.ifc.org/ehsguidelines
Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines
GENERAL EHS GUIDELINES: CONSTRUCTION AND DECOMMISSIONINGWORLD BANK GROUP

4.0 Construction and Decommissioning
4.1 Environment.............................................................89
Noise and Vibration ................................................89
Soil Erosion............................................................89
Air Quality..............................................................90
Solid Waste............................................................90
Hazardous Materials...............................................91
Wastewater Discharges..........................................91
Contaminated Land ................................................91
4.2 Occupational Health and Safety................................92
4.3 Community Health and Safety ..................................94
General Site Hazards .............................................94
Disease Prevention ................................................94
Traffic Safety..........................................................95

planned during periods of the day that will result in least
disturbance•Using noise control devices, such as temporary noisebarriers and deflectors for impact and blasting activities, andexhaust muffling devices for combustion engines.

•

Avoiding or minimizing project transportation throughcommunity areas

Soil Erosion
Soil erosion may be caused by exposure of soil surfaces to rain
and wind during site clearing, earth moving, and excavation
activities. The mobilization and transport of soil particles may, in

Applicability and ApproachThis section provides additional, specific guidance on prevention
and control of community health and safety impacts that may
occur during new project development, at the end of the project
life-cycle, or due to expansion or modification of existing project
facilities. Cross referencing is made to various other sections of
the General EHS Guidelines.

turn, result in sedimentation of surface drainage networks, which
may result in impacts to the quality of natural water systems andultimately the biological systems that use these waters.
Recommended soil erosion and water system management
approaches include:

Sediment mobilization and transport•

4.1 Environment{ TC "4.1
Environment" \f C \l "2" }Reducing or preventing erosion by:o

Scheduling to avoid heavy rainfall periods (i.e., during
the dry season) to the extent practicaloNoise and Vibration

Contouring and minimizing length and steepness of
slopesDuring construction and decommissioning activities, noise andoMulching to stabilize exposed areas

vibration may be caused by the operation of pile drivers, earthoRe-vegetating areas promptly

moving and excavation equipment, concrete mixers, cranes andoDesigning channels and ditches for post-constructionflows

the transportation of equipment, materials and people. Some
recommended noise reduction and control strategies to consider
in areas close to community areas include:•o•Lining steep channel and slopes (e.g. use jute matting)

Reducing or preventing off-site sediment transport throughPlanning activities in consultation with local communities so

use of settlement ponds, silt fences, and water treatment,that activities with the greatest potential to generate noise are

and modifying or suspending activities during extreme rainfall
and high winds to the extent practical.

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Clean runoff management

Air Quality•

Segregating or diverting clean water runoff to prevent it

Construction and decommissioning activities may generate

mixing with water containing a high solids content, toemission of fugitive dust caused by a combination of on-siteminimize the volume of water to be treated prior to releaseexcavation and movement of earth materials, contact ofconstruction machinery with bare soil, and exposure of bare soilRoad designand soil piles to wind. A secondary source of emissions may•

Limiting access road gradients to reduce runoff-induced

include exhaust from diesel engines of earth moving equipment,

erosionas well as from open burning of solid waste on-site. Techniques toProviding adequate road drainage based on road width,

consider for the reduction and control of air emissions fromsurface material, compaction, and maintenanceconstruction and decommissioning sites include:•

Disturbance to water bodies•

watercourse crossingsequipment (water suppression, bag house, or cyclone)•

cycles of valued flora and fauna (e.g., migration, spawning,

enclosures and covers, and increasing the moisture content•

For in-stream works, using isolation techniques such as
berming or diversion during construction to limit the exposureof disturbed sediments to moving water•

Consider using trenchless technology for pipeline crossings(e.g., suspended crossings) or installation by directional
drilling

Structural (slope) stability•

Providing effective short term measures for slope
stabilization, sediment control and subsidence control untillong term measures for the operational phase can be
implemented•

Providing adequate drainage systems to minimize andcontrol infiltration

Dust suppression techniques should be implemented, suchas applying water or non-toxic chemicals to minimize dust

etc.)
•

Minimizing dust from open area sources, including storage
piles, by using control measures such as installing

Restricting the duration and timing of in-stream activities tolower low periods, and avoiding periods critical to biological

Minimizing dust from material handling sources, such as
conveyors and bins, by using covers and/or control

Depending on the potential for adverse impacts, installing
free-spanning structures (e.g., single span bridges) for road••from vehicle movements•

Selectively removing potential hazardous air pollutants, suchas asbestos, from existing infrastructure prior to demolition•

Managing emissions from mobile sources according to
Section 1.1•

Avoiding open burning of solid (refer to solid waste
management guidance in Section 1.6)

Solid Waste
Non-hazardous solid waste generated at construction anddecommissioning sites includes excess fill materials from gradingand excavation activities, scrap wood and metals, and small
concrete spills. Other non-hazardous solid wastes include office,kitchen, and dormitory wastes when these types of operations arepart of construction project activities. Hazardous solid waste
includes contaminated soils, which could potentially be
encountered on-site due to previous land use activities, or small

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amounts of machinery maintenance materials, such as oily rags,

Wastewater Discharges

used oil filters, and used oil, as well as spill cleanup materials from

Construction and decommissioning activities may include theoil and fuel spills. Techniques for preventing and controlling non-generation of sanitary wastewater discharges in varying quantities

hazardous and hazardous construction site solid waste include

depending on the number of workers involved. Adequate portable

those already discussed in Section 1.6.

or permanent sanitation facilities serving all workers should be

Hazardous Materials
Construction and decommissioning activities may pose theprovided at all construction sites. Sanitary wastewater inconstruction and other sites should be managed as described in
Section 1.3.

potential for release of petroleum based products, such as
lubricants, hydraulic fluids, or fuels during their storage, transfer,

Contaminated Landor use in equipment. These materials may also be encounteredLand contamination may be encountered in sites under

during decommissioning activities in building components orconstruction or decommissioning due to known or unknown

industrial process equipment. Techniques for prevention,

historical releases of hazardous materials or oil, or due to theminimization, and control of these impacts include:

presence of abandoned infrastructure formerly used to store or•

Providing adequate secondary containment for fuel storage

handle these materials, including underground storage tanks.

tanks and for the temporary storage of other fluids such as

Actions necessary to manage the risk from contaminated land will

lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids,

depend on factors such as the level and location of contamination,

Using impervious surfaces for refueling areas and other fluid

the type and risks of the contaminated media, and the intended

transfer areas

land use. However, a basic management strategy should include:

Training workers on the correct transfer and handling of fuels

•

•
•
•
•

and chemicals and the response to spills

protecting the safety and health of occupants of the site, theProviding portable spill containment and cleanup equipment

surrounding community, and the environment poston site and training in the equipment deployment

construction or post decommissioning

Assessing the contents of hazardous materials and•Understanding the historical use of the land with regard topetroleum-based products in building systems (e.g. PCB

the potential presence of hazardous materials or oil prior tocontaining electrical equipment, asbestos-containing building

initiation of construction or decommissioning activities

materials) and process equipment and removing them prior•Preparing plans and procedures to respond to the discovery

to initiation of decommissioning activities, and managing theirof contaminated media to minimize or reduce the risk totreatment and disposal according to Sections 1.5 and 1.6 on

health, safety, and the environment consistent with theHazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Management,

approach for Contaminated Land in Section 1.6

respectively•

Managing contaminated media with the objective of•

Preparation of a management plan to manage obsolete,

Assessing the presence of hazardous substances in or onabandoned, hazardous materials or oil consistent with thebuilding materials (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos-

approach to hazardous waste management described incontaining flooring or insulation) and decontaminating or

Section 1.6.

properly managing contaminated building materials

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Successful implementation of any management strategy may•

Implementing good house-keeping practices, such as therequire identification and cooperation with whoever is responsible

sorting and placing loose construction materials or demolitionand liable for the contamination.

debris in established areas away from foot paths

4.2 Occupational Health and Safety{
TC "4.2 Occupational Health and
Safety" \f C \l "2" }Over-exertion
Over-exertion, and ergonomic injuries and illnesses, such as
repetitive motion, over-exertion, and manual handling, are among
the most common causes of injuries in construction anddecommissioning sites. Recommendations for their prevention
and control include:•

Training of workers in lifting and materials handlingtechniques in construction and decommissioning projects,
including the placement of weight limits above which•

Cleaning up excessive waste debris and liquid spills regularly•

Locating electrical cords and ropes in common areas andmarked corridors•

Work in Heights
Falls from elevation associated with working with ladders,
scaffolding, and partially built or demolished structures are among
the most common cause of fatal or permanent disabling injury atconstruction or decommissioning sites. If fall hazards exist, a fall
protection plan should be in place which includes one or more of
the following aspects, depending on the nature of the fall hazard95:•

pounds, when working at heights equal or greater than two

Planning work site layout to minimize the need for manual

meters or at any height if the risk includes falling intotransfer of heavy loads•

operating machinery, into water or other liquid, into

Selecting tools and designing work stations that reduce force

hazardous substances, or through an opening in a workrequirements and holding times, and which promote
improved postures, including, where applicable, user
adjustable work stations•

surface•support 5000 pounds (also described in this section insuch as job rotations and rest or stretch breaks

Working at Heights above), as well as fall rescue procedures
to deal with workers whose fall has been successfully

Slips and Falls

arrested. The tie in point of the fall arresting system should

Slips and falls on the same elevation associated with poormaterials, liquid spills, and uncontrolled use of electrical cords andropes on the ground, are also among the most frequent cause ofTraining and use of personal fall arrest systems, such as fullbody harnesses and energy absorbing lanyards able to

Implementing administrative controls into work processes,

housekeeping, such as excessive waste debris, loose construction

Training and use of temporary fall prevention devices, suchas rails or other barriers able to support a weight of 200

mechanical assists or two-person lifts are necessary•

Use of slip retardant footwear

also be able to support 5000 pounds•

Use of control zones and safety monitoring systems to warn
workers of their proximity to fall hazard zones, as well as

lost time accidents at construction and decommissioning sites.
Recommended methods for the prevention of slips and falls from,95 Additional information on identification of fall hazards and design of protection

or on, the same elevation include:

systems can be found in the United States Occupational Health and Safety
Administration’s (US OSHA) web site:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html

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securing, marking, and labeling covers for openings in floors,a turn while moving. Techniques for the prevention and control ofroofs, or walking surfaces

these impacts include:

Struck By Objects•

machine operation, and walking areas, and controlling

Construction and demolition activities may pose significant

vehicle traffic through the use of one-way traffic routes,

hazards related to the potential fall of materials or tools, as well as

establishment of speed limits, and on-site trained flag-people

ejection of solid particles from abrasive or other types of power

wearing high-visibility vests or outer clothing covering totools which can result in injury to the head, eyes, and extremities.
Techniques for the prevention and control of these hazards
include:••direct traffic••

Ensuring the visibility of personnel through their use of highvisibility vests when working in or walking through heavy

Using a designated and restricted waste drop or dischargeequipment operating areas, and training of workers to verify

zones, and/or a chute for safe movement of wastes fromeye contact with equipment operators before approaching theupper to lower levels

operating vehicle

Conducting sawing, cutting, grinding, sanding, chipping or•

chiseling with proper guards and anchoring as applicable•

Planning and segregating the location of vehicle traffic,

Maintaining clear traffic ways to avoid driving of heavy

Ensuring moving equipment is outfitted with audible back-up
alarms•Using inspected and well-maintained lifting devices that are

equipment over loose scrap

appropriate for the load, such as cranes, and securing loads

Use of temporary fall protection measures in scaffolds andwhen lifting them to higher job-site elevations.

out edges of elevated work surfaces, such as hand rails and•toe boards to prevent materials from being dislodged

Dust

Evacuating work areas during blasting operations, and using•

blast mats or other means of deflection to minimize fly rock or

as applying water or non-toxic chemicals to minimize dust

ejection of demolition debris if work is conducted in proximityfrom vehicle movements

to people or structures•

Dust suppression techniques should be implemented, such

Wearing appropriate PPE, such as safety glasses with side•

PPE, such as dusk masks, should be used where dust levels
are excessive

shields, face shields, hard hats, and safety shoes

Confined Spaces and Excavations
Moving Machinery

Examples of confined spaces that may be present in construction

Vehicle traffic and use of lifting equipment in the movement ofor demolition sites include: silos, vats, hoppers, utility vaults,

machinery and materials on a construction site may posetanks, sewers, pipes, and access shafts. Ditches and trenches

temporary hazards, such as physical contact, spills, dust,

may also be considered a confined space when access or egressemissions, and noise. Heavy equipment operators have limited

is limited. In addition to the guidance provided in Section 2.8 thefields of view close to their equipment and may not see

occupational hazards associated with confined spaces andpedestrians close to the vehicle. Center-articulated vehicles create

excavations in construction and decommissioning sites should bea significant impact or crush hazard zone on the outboard side of

prevented according to the following recommendations:

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Controlling site-specific factors which may contribute torespirators, clothing/protective suits, gloves and eye

excavation slope instability including, for example, the use ofprotection

excavation dewatering, side-walls support, and slope
gradient adjustments that eliminate or minimize the risk ofcollapse, entrapment, or drowning•

Providing safe means of access and egress fromexcavations, such as graded slopes, graded access route, or
stairs and ladders•

Avoiding the operation of combustion equipment for
prolonged periods inside excavations areas where otherworkers are required to enter unless the area is actively
ventilated

Other Site Hazards
Construction and decommissioning sites may pose a risk of
exposure to dust, chemicals, hazardous or flammable materials,
and wastes in a combination of liquid, solid, or gaseous forms,
which should be prevented through the implementation of project-

4.3 Community Health and Safety{ TC"4.3 Community Health and Safety" \f
C \l "2" }General Site Hazards
Projects should implement risk management strategies to protect
the community from physical, chemical, or other hazards
associated with sites under construction and decommissioning.
Risks may arise from inadvertent or intentional trespassing,including potential contact with hazardous materials, contaminatedsoils and other environmental media, buildings that are vacant or
under construction, or excavations and structures which may pose
falling and entrapment hazards. Risk management strategies may
include:•Restricting access to the site, through a combination of

specific plans and other applicable management practices,institutional and administrative controls, with a focus on highincluding:risk structures or areas depending on site-specific situations,•waste materials from tanks, vessels, processing equipment
or contaminated land as a first step in decommissioning
activities to allow for safe excavation, construction,
dismantling or demolition•

Use of specially trained personnel to identify and selectively
remove potentially hazardous materials in building elements
prior to dismantling or demolition including, for example,
insulation or structural elements containing asbestos andPolychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), electrical components
containing mercury96•

including fencing, signage, and communication of risks to the

Use of specially trained personnel to identify and remove

local community•

Removing hazardous conditions on construction sites thatcannot be controlled affectively with site access restrictions,such as covering openings to small confined spaces,
ensuring means of escape for larger openings such as
trenches or excavations, or locked storage of hazardous
materials

Disease Prevention
Increased incidence of communicable and vector-borne diseases
attributable to construction activities represents a potentially

Use of waste-specific PPE based on the results of anserious health threat to project personnel and residents of local

occupational health and safety assessment, including

communities. Recommendations for the prevention and control of

96 Additional information on the management and removal of asbestos containing

communicable and vector-borne diseases also applicable tobuilding materials can be found in ASTM Standard E2356 and E1368

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construction phase activities are provided in Section 3.6 (Disease
Prevention).

Traffic Safety
Construction activities may result in a significant increase in
movement of heavy vehicles for the transport of construction
materials and equipment increasing the risk of traffic-related
accidents and injuries to workers and local communities. The
incidence of road accidents involving project vehicles during
construction should be minimized through a combination of
education and awareness-raising, and the adoption of procedures
described in Section 3.4 (Traffic Safety).

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