NIOSH Programs Collaborate on Safe, Green and Sustainable Construction

Builders and designers interested in creating safe, green and sustainable commercial and residential buildings face many challenges in the United States. The NIOSH Construction and Prevention through Design programs are collaborating on efforts to increase the use of building designs and construction practices that address safety and health hazards during all the stages of a building: pre-design, design, construction, occupancy and maintenance and demolition.

The aim of Prevention through Design is to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, fatalities and exposures by eliminating hazards and minimizing risks to workers in the design and re-design of facilities; work methods; processes; equipment and tools and products. Eliminating hazards and controlling risks to workers “at the source” or as early as possible in the lifecycle of items or workplaces is the goal. This includes the design, redesign and retrofit of work premises, structures, tools, facilities, equipment, machinery, products, substances, work processes and the organization of work.

Why is green construction important to occupational safety and health?

In 2011, 71 percent of construction businesses reported using at least one green technology or practice and more than half were involved in improving energy efficiency within their establishments or reducing creation of waste materials.  Most of the rating systems for building environmental, energy and/or sustainable quality address some aspects of occupational health, but what they address is limited and does not specifically address safety.

• None of the rating systems for building environmental, energy and/or sustainable quality categories directly mentions construction, operation or maintenance worker safety.  There is an opportunity available to integrate occupational health and safety into the design so that workers in construction and maintenance, building occupants and demolition specialists can be kept safe and healthy.  Occupational health and environmental health can benefit each other by working collaboratively.

To find out more about what NIOSH is doing on supporting and improving green construction, click here http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/greenconstruction/default.html.

Photo source http://www.cdc.gov.