How to Use Boundary Monitoring to Control Jobsite Hazards

Boundary monitoring is an important factor in construction site control in terms of minimizing potential contamination, protecting the public from jobsite hazards and adhering to the appropriate public health requirements.

Construction dust can compromise air quality, environmental noise pollution can be harmful to workers and local residents, and vibration can cause damage.

Monitoring for noise, dust, vibration and harmful emissions makes it possible to manage the impact of the construction site. Site management has a duty of care to protect against potentially dangerous conditions. However, this can be difficult to manage without reliable data streams and instrumentation that gathers the environmental information.

Consequently, more companies are turning to boundary monitoring technology to measure the level of risk present and make sure they adhere to environmental limits and guidelines.

Stay Informed About Site Emissions

Boundary monitoring refers to measurement of noise, dust, vibration and the short-term detection of harmful contaminants in the soil around a jobsite to ensure that companies are complying with all applicable limits at work. Real-time air quality monitoring systems are a cost-effective alternative to having on-site experts conduct manual monitoring.

These solutions require little upkeep or maintenance while continually measuring conditions on or around a jobsite, and are designed for easy setup and use.

Control, Compliance & Reputation

Perimeter air monitoring and noise measurement are important components of a construction jobsite, helping companies remain compliant with control measures required for them to carry out the project.

If complaints arise, responsible companies using boundary monitoring have proof that they’ve been diligent with their monitoring of operations and are abiding by operational requirements. Data evidence from a boundary monitoring system is also helpful if a jobsite is blamed for issues caused by another operation, allowing site managers to respond rapidly and minimize damage.

Email and text alerts can also be set up to alert site managers when noise, dust or vibration levels are above prescribed levels, allowing preventive action to be taken before complaints arise. This allows management on jobsites to help maintain good relationships with their neighbors.

Environmental Risks & Health Implications

There are thousands of contaminated sites in the United States, varying in size and significance, ranging from abandoned buildings to large tracts of land saturated with toxic materials from past industrial or mining activity.

Some sites are of great concern because of the chemicals present in the soil and the locality of the land, exposing humans or the environment to hazards. When under redevelopment, these sites pose a major hazard for new construction operations. However, effective boundary monitoring solutions can help to mitigate environmental issues during construction by effectively measuring toxic compound exposure.

An environmental monitor should be used for the short-term detection of emissions from site-related chemicals. The early detection of these emissions will help site management in mitigating and reducing the emissions exposure to surrounding communities in accordance with regulatory and guideline limits.

Effective monitoring solutions are available, like those fixed with a photoionization detector that measures for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) up to 6,000 parts per million, assessing the emissions limits and air quality of an area.

VOCs are organic chemicals known for harmful properties that can leak into the ground, leaving the topsoil of the land polluted by the site’s previous occupants.

The levels need to be assessed and monitored to ensure the site is safe for operation and to safeguard the health of the workforce and surrounding area. Not only is the exposure to VOCs harmful to the environment, but these emissions can lead to lasting health implications.

Site boundary monitors are designed to help companies remain compliant with emissions levels, using remote monitoring and reporting of noise, dust and vibration levels. These solutions are easy to transport and install and are cost-effective.

Reporting is made easy with the ability to readily produce reports for jobsite dust or noise compliance purposes that can be sent to multiple users.