Abstract
With increasing numbers and quantities of chemicals in commerce and use, scientific attention continues to focus on the environmental and public health consequences of chemical production processes and exposures. Concerns about environmental stewardship have been gaining broader traction through emphases on sustainability and “green chemistry” principles. Occupational safety and health has not been fully promoted as a component of environmental sustainability. However, there is a natural convergence of green chemistry/sustainability and occupational safety and health efforts. Addressing both together can have a synergistic effect. Failure to promote this convergence could lead to increasing worker hazards and lack of support for sustainability efforts. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has made a concerted effort involving multiple stakeholders to anticipate and identify potential hazards associated with sustainable practices and green jobs for workers. Examples of potential hazards are presented in case studies with suggested solutions such as implementing the hierarchy of controls and prevention through design principles in green chemistry and green building practices. Practical considerations and strategies for green chemistry, and environmental stewardship could benefit from the incorporation of occupational safety and health concepts which in turn protect affected workers.
Highlights
Integration of occupational safety and health (OSH) with sustainability and green chemistry practices is essential to the effective realization of all of these endeavors
Green chemistry can advance environmental sustainability by informing the design of molecules, manufacturing processes, and products in ways that conserve resources, use less energy, eliminate pollution, and protect human health. This approach has been expressed under initiatives identified as “green.” While endeavors that employ green chemistry have been heartily supported by the occupational safety and health community [7,8,9,10], the opportunity to fully incorporate health and safety into the sustainability paradigm has not yet been realized
Approaches that utilize green chemistry principles are needed if the U.S and other nations are going to meet their societies’ needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Summary
Integration of occupational safety and health (OSH) with sustainability and green chemistry practices is essential to the effective realization of all of these endeavors. When worker hazards and risks are considered during design or re-design of production processes in accordance with green principles, health gains, environmental benefits, and cost savings can be maximized. Green chemistry can advance environmental sustainability by informing the design of molecules, manufacturing processes, and products in ways that conserve resources, use less energy, eliminate pollution, and protect human health. This approach has been expressed under initiatives identified as “green.” While endeavors that employ green chemistry have been heartily supported by the occupational safety and health community [7,8,9,10], the opportunity to fully incorporate health and safety into the sustainability paradigm has not yet been realized. It is most often workers who will be exposed to these hazards directly by handling raw material during production, packaging, and transport, during
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