New Green/LEED Projects Bring New Risks

A recent study published in the Journal of Construction Engineering and Management examined construction projects designed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Researchers found that LEED project workers experienced:

• 36% increase in lacerations, strains and sprains
• 24% increase in falls, attributed to solar panel installations
• 19% increase of eyestrain, attributed to reflective roof membrane installations; and
• 14% increase in exposure to harmful substances when installing new wastewater technologies

New types of projects bring new risks and hazards that call for new methods of risk management and mitigation. These new types of projects may even need special endorsements or policies to be fully covered. Be sure to contact your risk consultant when taking on new types of work to ensure your risk is fully secured.