{"id":1614,"date":"2011-12-16T04:32:07","date_gmt":"2011-12-16T04:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hazards.org\/greenjobs\/blog\/?p=1614"},"modified":"2011-12-16T04:49:51","modified_gmt":"2011-12-16T04:49:51","slug":"green-construction%e2%80%99s-added-ingredient-danger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazards.org\/greenjobs\/blog\/2011\/12\/16\/green-construction%e2%80%99s-added-ingredient-danger\/","title":{"rendered":"Green construction\u2019s added ingredient – danger"},"content":{"rendered":"

Construction workers involved in environmentally friendly, \u2018green\u2019 building projects can face additional traditional and novel hazards<\/a>, researchers have found.\u00a0 Problems identified in the study identify a greater risk of falls and new, high risk tasks.<\/p>\n

The University of Colorado study<\/a>, publishing in the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, examined construction projects built to achieve the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification<\/a>.\u00a0 The research team found compared to traditional builds, certain tasks in sustainable building projects put workers at an increased risks of lacerations, strains and sprains (up 36 per cent from handling recycled materials), eye strain (up 19 per cent from installing reflective membranes) and exposure to hazardous chemicals (up 14 per cent from installing wastewater technologies). \u00a0The study also found a 24 per cent increase in falls during roof work, attributed to the installation of on\u2010site renewable energy systems like photovoltaic cells.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn’t have to be this way,\u201d noted Peter Stafford, executive director of CPWR \u2013 the Center for Construction Research and Training<\/a>, which supported the study. \u201cWith proper layout of the worksite, recyclables can be sorted safely and efficiently. With properly scheduled breaks for hydration, a reflective roof doesn’t have to mean trips to the hospital. And with proper fall protection solar panels can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels without risking workers’ lives and limbs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contractors and designers interviewed for the study said measures to reduce injuries and better protect workers could include incorporating prefabrication, more effective site layout and use of alternative products. Using low-emission materials also could reduce occupational health risks for workers in enclosed environments.<\/p>\n