Promoting Safety and Health in a Green Economy

This analytical report looks at different “green industries” from an occupational safety and health (OSH) perspective, and shows that while green jobs improve the environment, revitalize the economy and create new employment opportunities, they may also present a number of known and unknown risks for workers. For example, the manufacture and installation of wind mills requires new specific skills that may entail new occupational hazards, while risks related to their installation and maintenance are similar to those prevalent in construction. The report also stresses that the transition towards energy-efficient construction and sustainable refurbishment requires skills development and training far beyond those for traditional buildings. Therefore, capacity building for employers, designers, contractors, managers and workers is fundamental to equip them with the new skills and risk prevention methods required to deal with these challenges. Also available in Italian and Portuguese.