The Unexpected Link Between Eco-Friendly Construction and Worker Safety Statistics

Eco-friendly construction offers energy-efficient buildings with low maintenance and operational costs. It’s kinder to the environment and meets the rising demand for sustainability in industry. But are eco-friendly construction projects safer for construction workers?

We examined the unexpected link between eco-friendly construction and worker safety statistics.

Worker Safety in the Construction Industry

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, an average of 7,203,279 people were employed in the private construction sector as of 2020. Of these, there were 174,100 total recordable cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses in that same year. Previous years saw much higher numbers of such cases.

So, what is behind this reduction in construction accidents? Thanks to efforts by the U.S. According to the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the number of construction accidents is declining, And worker deaths due to high-risk falls are declining too.

Falls from extreme heights are common safety challenges in traditional construction. And in eco-friendly construction, this danger remains. But safer scaffolding, mobile safety tools, and ergonomic gear are going a long way to prevent the most common construction and other industrial injuries.

The Role of Advocacy and Legal Support

For every construction accident, there’s a potential legal nightmare. Construction accident claims often involve multiple legal issues. And to make things even more complicated, several parties are sometimes responsible for worker accidents. This is why it is so essential to seek professional guidance.

Workers injured due to negligence can get support from a construction accident lawyer. This will ensure their rights and safety are protected. Businesses can also seek advice about their responsibility for worker safety. In this way, legal professionals also play a role in upholding safety standards on worksites.

It’s important to note that while eco-friendly construction projects may suffer fewer incidents, they nonetheless are as responsible for worker compensation as traditional construction sites.

The Rise of Eco-Friendly Construction

In recent years, society has become aware of its responsibility to protect and preserve the environment. This is mostly due to the effects of climate change. As a result, there is a rising demand for eco-friendly construction, both in residential and commercial buildings.

Eco-friendly construction is sometimes called sustainable construction or green building. But whatever name you use, the basic premise is the same. It involves designing, constructing, and operating buildings so that their environmental impact is greatly reduced.

Interestingly, this has happened when more emphasis is being placed on worker health, safety, and wellbeing. Therefore, it is not surprising that so many companies have looked for ways to offer both eco-friendly principles and enhanced worker safety, simultaneously.

How Eco-Friendly Practices Improve Worker Safety

Eco-friendly practices in the construction industry are helping to reduce workplace accidents and improve general worker safety. The materials used in green construction are typically less abrasive and also contain fewer hazardous chemicals.

Eco-practices lead to improved worksite conditions, with better ventilation and ergonomic designs. And when workers have a safer and more comfortable working environment, they typically experience fewer workplace accidents.

Green-certified projects also typically offer enhanced training, and this is important because worker safety awareness is key to avoiding worksite accidents and injuries. This shares the responsibility for workplace safety between construction companies and their workforces.

Real-Life Example of Safety Through Eco-Friendly Design

The Shanghai Tower, standing 2,073 feet (632 meters) tall, is the second tallest skyscraper in the world. This example of modern sustainable construction was designed to be highly energy efficient. But it was also designed with safety in mind.

The tower was designed with an asymmetrical, tapered profile and rounded corners to withstand the city’s regular typhoon-force winds. Wind tunnel tests proved that this reduced the building’s wind loads by 24 percent.

Design elements like these ensured that the Shanghai Tower would be safe for its eventual occupants, They also created a safer environment for the teams who worked on it or in the vicinity, during construction.

Challenges and Critiques

Can green construction compromise worker safety? Yes, it can.

When unfamiliar, new technology is combined with working at dangerous heights, accidental falls are still possible. Perhaps even more so. And although renewable energies like solar panels reduce the burden on the electrical grid, they don’t necessarily decrease the number of falls.

Eco-friendly construction is not always safer than traditional construction. Any construction site has the potential for danger. This is why the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) developed the Prevention through Design (PtD) Program.

It addresses the prevention of occupational injuries, illnesses, fatalities, and exposures on worksites. The aim is to eliminate these hazards as early as possible. It does so by minimizing risks during the design phase and leveraging equipment, tools, and processes that make the job safer.

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