AIR POLLUTION

Cleaner Air– The Road to a Healthier Future ( CAFS) is a national cross-government strategy that sets out how the Scottish Government and its partner organisations propose to reduce air pollution further to protect human health and fulfil Scotland’s legal responsibilities as soon as possible. A series of actions across a range of policy areas are outlined, and there are a number of important new initiatives:

·        a National Modelling Framework;

·        a National Low Emission Framework:

·        adoption of World Health Organization guideline values for particulate matter in Scottish legislation; and

·        proposals for a national air quality awareness campaign.

What is air pollution?

Air quality can be defined as ‘a measurement of the pollutants in the air’  whilst air pollution is the ‘contamination of air by harmful gases and particulates, mainly oxides of carbon, sulphur, nitrogen and particulate matter’  . Today, we do not usually see factory chimneys, houses or vehicles belching out black smoke. This is because of the increasingly strict legislative controls of industrial and domestic emissions, along with higher engine emissions standards for road vehicles.

Air pollutants may now be largely invisible, but the gases and particulates can be harmful to human health and the natural environment. We are not yet fully compliant with EU and Scottish legal requirements for air quality, as summarised in the Legislation and Policy  and Standards  sections of the Air Quality in Scotland website. As a result, the Local Air Quality Management ( LAQM) regime has designated over 30 Air Quality Management Areas in Scotland.

Reasons for non-compliance with legal objectives include:

·        an increase in the diesel fleet over the last decade;

·        an increase in the total number of vehicles since 2004 ^[5] ;

·        a disparity between laboratory and real-world emissions from vehicle engines;

·        topography and spatial planning of urban areas creating street canyons, which can trap air pollution close to ground level;

·        limited integration of air quality with other policies related to climate change and planning; and

·        transboundary emission sources.

Air pollution disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society, including the very young, the elderly, people with existing medical conditions and those living in deprived urban areas. Thus, the key aims of reducing air pollution are to protect human health and eliminate health inequalities, in addition to improving the quality of places and habitats in the wider environment.

In the UK, the health impacts of poor air quality have been estimated to cost around £15 billion per year  . In the UK, the total economic costs of air pollution may be as high as £54 billion a year  . In Scotland in 2010 fine particulate matter was associated with around 2,000 premature deaths and a total of around 22,500 life years lost across the population  .

CAFS will address the major air pollutants that affect human health (and take account of greenhouse gases such as CO ₂), but there will be a focus on two pollutants: nitrogen dioxide ( NO ₂) and particulate matter ( PM ₁₀ and PM _2.5).

 

Multiple benefits of cleaner air

Cleaner air provides multiple benefits, but the responsibility for delivering cleaner air rests with many groups, including the general public, national and local government and businesses. Actions that can be undertaken by individuals and society to achieve cleaner air – and tangible personal benefits – are summarised in Figures. There are also opportunities to generate efficiencies and cost savings by linking air quality to related policy interventions, notably climate change adaption and mitigation plus noise. Efficiency gains of €2.5 billion could be achieved in the EU  through such an approach.

 

Air quality and Scottish Government policy

Scotland’s Economic Strategy  states that sustainable economic growth is the key to unlocking Scotland’s potential. The Scottish Government’s commitment to sustainable development is reflected in its Purpose  , which is to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish. This will be achieved by:

·        creating a supportive business environment;

·        achieving a low carbon economy;

·        tackling health and wellbeing and social problems;

·        maintaining a high-quality environment; and

·        passing on a sustainable legacy for future generations.

Achieving cleaner air in Scotland will deliver positive outcomes across all of these goals.

 

Construction Equipment

 

Construction Equipment Prepared by Mr. Praveen J

Every construction project has a perfect set of machinery to get the job done. Getting the right equipment for each project helps with efficiency, safety and build quality. Because of this, it’s essential to be on the same page with your team when it comes to choosing equipment. Some machines have multiple uses, while others are task-specific.

So, if you are interested in construction, here are some construction equipment names you need to know:

Boom Lift

A boom lift is a type of aerial platform used to get workers off the ground to work on an elevated project. This construction lift has a bucket that’s typically large enough for one to two workers to stand in. Wheels or a continuous band of treads are used to make the machine mobile. The crane that lifts the bucket is operated by a hydraulic lift system.

There are two main types of boom lifts: articulating and telescopic, but these are all part of the larger “construction lift” family.

Scissor Lift

Similar to a boom lift, scissor lifts are aerial work platforms used to elevate workers. Both electric and engine-powered scissor lifts exist. Electric scissor lifts are used when a quieter work environment is needed, whereas engine-powered lifts sacrifice quiet for rugged terrain mobility. Scissor lift buckets are elevated by a system of jacks.

3. Forklift

  

If materials need to be transported a short distance, forklift equipment can be used. The lift can move materials both vertically and horizontally. Usually used in warehouses, it’s operated by a steering wheel and dashboard controls. This equipment is great for loading and unloading heavy packages/materials.

There are ten main forklift types, each with a specific use. For instance, the reach forklift is used to “reach” boxes and other objects at extremely high heights within a warehouse.

4.Man lift

 

The man lift was created to transport workers between floors of buildings under construction. Typically, man lifts are equipped with four wheels, and most can maneuver around sites. However, these machines are sometimes stationary and have to be moved on a trailer.

Man lifts utilize a bent crane system that uses hydraulic pumps to raise a bucket that workers stand-in during transport. This construction lift is ideal for any project that needs to reach high elevations.

Telehandlers

A telehandler is used for jobs where a forklift is inadequate. It’s more heavy-duty than a forklift and can access much higher areas as well.

These pieces of heavy equipment have an extendable arm, allowing them to place loads in high places. The machine also has large tires, giving it an advantage on off-road sites.

Bulldozer

Bulldozers are pieces of crawler equipment and have many different uses. Equipped with a metal bucket plate, this piece of heavy machinery is used to push, carry and condense any sort of loose material on site. The metal plate can also be used to loosen compacted materials and break apart walls or other stable structures.

Wheel Tractor-Scraper

Wheel tractor-scrapers are also used in earthmoving operations. This piece of heavy equipment consists of a rear hopper which can move vertically, with a sharp edge for flattening a surface. The front end hosts a sharp edge to cut soil and a carpenter’s plane for cutting wood. The two tools work together to fill the hopper and transport whatever material was removed from a cleared area.

Skid Steer Loader

 

Used for a plethora of jobs, a skid-steer loader is a small engine-powered machine. In front of the operating cabin, there’s a mechanism that allows for the attachment of different types of tools.

From buckets to loaders, a skid loader can host different equipment and is also small enough to maneuver into tight areas of a site. The frame is rigid, meaning turning is done through differential steering (e.g., each wheel moves at a different speed, thus causing a turn).

Backhoe Loader

Another type of digger is a backhoe loader. Equipped with a backhoe in the back and a bucket in front, this is a multi-use machine. Similar to a tractor, it’s operated by a driver and has the ability to push materials, with the additional benefit of scooping. Due to its small profile and high maneuverability, the backhoe loader (referred to as backhoe in the industry) is commonly seen in urban environments.

Excavator

 

An excavator is a heavy piece of machinery used to dig and crush material on a site. It consists of a hydraulic crane-like boom with a metal shovel that has sharp prongs on the end. The driver’s cab is set on a rotating platform, making the machine more maneuverable. The machine is mobile due to an undercarriage consisting of heavy-duty tracks. Although sometimes called a “power shovel,” an excavator and a power shovel have their differences.

 

Trencher

Trencher are the perfect tool for digging ditches, channels or other long, narrow holes for things like underground piping and cables. This powerful tool is equipped with a heavy metal chain made with incredibly strong steel which it uses to cut into the ground and rip through things like roots, smaller rocks and dirt. They come in a range of sizes and capacities, like the wheel trencher or chain trencher, which looks like a giant chain saw.

Articulated Hauler

As with any articulated truck, an articulated hauler has a pivot joint in its build, giving it increased mobility. Because of this joint, it can carry massive loads around tight turns, making it ideal for most structural builds. This dump truck has a control hub where the driver sits and a material pail where loads go to be transported. Almost all articulated haulers are four-wheel drive, giving them access to most sites regardless of condition.

off-Highway Truck

 

 

The off-highway truck is specifically made for rugged environments. This heavy-duty dump-truck has massive wheels with deep treads, allowing it to venture off-road and support construction and mining sites. It’s primarily used to transport materials like rocks or dirt from one site to another. Some models use multi-axle dump buckets to support even heavier loads.

Asphalt Paver

Machines used to lay asphalt are called asphalt pavers. Asphalt is loaded into the paver by a dump truck, and then distributed onto the desired area before being semi-packed down — then they are completely flattened by a roller. The paver is typically towed by a dump truck holding asphalt.

Compactor

While there are many types of compactors in construction, the plate compactor is the most commonly used. It has a vibrating base plate that levels surfaces and crushes uneven debris. Another common compactor is a road rolling compactor.

Road rolling compactors are used to flatten roads in order to prepare them for re-asphalting or to lay foundation. Other common compactors found on construction sites are trash and hydraulic compactors.

Drum Roller

In order to press asphalt, soil and other loose materials, drum rollers are used. This machine is typically found at road construction sites. There are two types of drum rollers: smooth rollers and pad foot rollers.

Smooth rollers provide static pressure and use vibration to compact loose materials. Pad foot rollers, also known as Sheep foot rollers, also provide static pressure and vibration; however, they also generate manipulative force, allowing for uniform compaction.