Green Jobs Detrimental to Workers’ Health
Workplace accidents and health problems related to work could increase with the rise in green jobs in industries such as recycling, if proper actions are not taken. This has been reported by Rory O’Neill, editor of the health and safety journal Hazards and Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Stirling, Scotland.
Elaborating on the topic, O’Neill writes that the recycling industry is in fact the waste industry under the garb of green jobs. He says that even with the new look, the waste industry has not mended its old ways. He points out that according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), working in the waste and recycling industry is nearly 10 times more deadly than other jobs.
O’Neill further believes that green jobs are beset with dangers such as respiratory hazards because of constant contact with fibreglass and other materials in re-insulation projects, and exposure to lead and asbestos during energy efficiency retrofitting and “weatherisation” in older buildings. He writes that these new dangers of the recycling industry coexist with the other health and safety problems faced by workers traditionally.
Apart from these, O’Neill also mentions the dangers of falling from heights in tasks such as installation of heavy energy-efficient windows and solar panels, or in the construction and maintenance of wind turbines. He spells out the ergonomic hazards of workers such as those resulting from the installation of large insulation panels. He also stresses on the need for resolute union efforts to ensure that such jobs save environment but do not affect workers’ health.
Companies need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions with effective policies around health and safety decisions. NEBOSH courses offer training designed to help those with health and safety responsibilities; The NEBOSH Fire Certificate has been designed for managers, supervisors, and employee representatives who need to ensure that their organisation meets its responsibilities under fire safety legislation. It is of benefit to organisations in enabling them to contribute to the conduct and review of fire risk assessments and fire preventive and protective measures within most workplaces.
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