Integration of construction worker safety and health in assessment of sustainable construction

Workplace health and safety must be constantly woven into the civil discourse around sustainable development (Ennals 2002). Construction workplace safety and health is an integral aspect of sustainable construction management. Existing sustainability indicators focus on nonhuman resources during construction and human resources and energy after construction, but surely it is just as important that construction not diminish the capacity of the worker throughout the construction process. The protection of the human resource must be factored into measurements of sustainable construction (Cole 2000; Dorman 2000; Hill and Bowen 1997). An attempt has been made in this paper to present compelling reasons why construction worker safety and health must be integrated in sustainability and green building efforts. Furthermore, suggestions were offered on how this might be achieved quite effectively through the LEED's certification process. Whereas sustainable building rating systems may not have been established to focus on impacts of worker safety, the worker is no less an important factor than the animals that benefit from the reduction of nighttime light pollution or aquatic life that benefits from implementing best management practices to ensure low-impact stormwater runoff. Now is the time to address this serious shortcoming. Construction worker safety and health can no longer be marginalized from the core concerns of sustainable development and thus must be thoroughly integrated into current sustainability assessment methods which most directly impact public consciousness and behavior. Construction workers are arguably the most valuable resources that are utilized in the construction of our facilities, and their well-being must be assured. This should be the primary objective of any project that is undertaken under the banner of sustainable construction.