Final answer:
The standards used to ensure the safety of building construction and environment include OSHA's construction safety standards, building codes for habitation safety, the Clean Air Act's air quality standards, and the Clean Water Act’s water quality standards overseen by the EPA.
Step-by-step explanation:
The set of standards currently used to protect public health, safety, and general welfare as they relate to the construction of buildings include various codes and regulations. Among them, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets standards for construction safety such as fall protection, prevention of trenching cave-ins, and exposure to harmful chemicals.
For example, employers are required to have safeguards like guardrails or safety harnesses, put guards on dangerous machines, and provide proper training in a language workers understand. The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act further requires employers to maintain a workplace free of serious recognized hazards.
In addition, building codes ensure houses have safe construction, smoke detectors, and proper electrical wiring, while environmental protections like the Clean Air Act set National Ambient Air Quality Standards to protect public health and the environment. Lastly, water quality standards governed by laws such as the Clean Water Act are overseen by the EPA to ensure the protection of water for various uses.