Building Design and Construction Handbook - Merritt - Ventech!

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT 17.67
17.24 SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
CONCERNS IN CONSTRUCTION
Construction project managers should seriously consider the social and environmental
effects of their construction operations, job safety operations (Art 17.20),
and for proper community relations, use of environmental impact statements and
the opinions of public interest groups (Art. 17.22). Contractors should be familiar
with operations that have resulted in criticism and restraints, so that they can avoid
pitfalls and operate within desirable guidelines.
The Committee on Social and Environmental Concerns of the Construction
Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers has defined the three main
areas of concern for construction as follows:
Social. These areas cover:
Land usage, such as the visual aspect of the construction project, including
housekeeping and security; avoidance of landscape defacement, such as needless
removal of trees; prevention of earth cuts and borrow pits that would deface
certain areas for a long time; protection of wildlife, vegetation, wetlands, and
other ecological systems; and visual protection of surrounding residential areas
through installation of proper fencing and plantings.
Historical and archaeological, including preservation of historical and archaeological
items of an irreplaceable nature.
Crime. The construction process often creates temporary negative impacts on a
community, resulting in a crime increase. This can include local crime as well
as fraud and bribing of public officials.
Economics, including impact of a project on the economics of a region, such as
a rapidly increased demand for labor far in excess of supply, with a negative
effect on the wage structure in the area and economic harm to the area after
construction has been completed.
Community involvement, including hiring practices and dealing with the leadership
in the community, whether they be of different ethnic groups, income
levels, or organizational affiliations (Art. 17.21); union hiring practices; and
training programs and foreign language programs.
Safety (Art 17.20).
Physical Media. The effects of construction on land, air, water, and of release of
pollutants and toxic substances are also a broad area of concern. Water is often
altered in its purity and temperature, and wildlife often is destroyed on land and
water by construction of such projects as dams, power plants, and river and harbor
facilities.
Energy Conservation, Vibration, and Noise. Vibration has become of increasing
concern through the increasingly frequent use in buildings of light construction
materials. These are usually flexible and prone to vibrate. In addition, construction
machinery has become larger and more powerful, with the result that vibration of
this machinery requires strict control.
Identification of noise-producing construction operations and equipment, and
control of building construction noise are a concern of contractors. Noise-abatement
codes for construction exist in many municipalities. Unless the provisions of these
codes are properly understood and enforced, they may result in prohibiting of two-