In an interview featured in the December 2011 issue of Professional Safety, Dale Walsh, CSP, CIH, LEED AP BD+C, discusses the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system and whether it's having an impact on workers safety in the U.S. construction industry. "In my experience, LEED has had little to no impact on construction safety," Walsh says.But that could change, Walsh says, if more SH&E professionals get involved. "If SH&E professionals can position themselves as the go-to professionals for writing construction IAQMP [indoor air quality management plans] by working with local architects, building departments and the ICC [International Code Council], we may be able to influence the contents of IAQMPs to address SH&E issues."
Walsh also points to a disconnect between green building and PTD principles. While green building principles include some planning regarding what LEED credits will be pursued, "when it comes to seeking acceptable levels of risk and extensive preplanning to account for SH&E issues, there does not seem to be much emphasis," Walsh says. Unfortunately, he adds, few SH&E professionals are engaged in this process. "We need many more voices to try to get green building decision makers to listen to common-sense approaches." He also says SH&E professionals should "interact more with commissioning agents . . . to show them our value and how we can add to their services. . . . [W]e need to get out and participate so that eventually our voices will be heard."
Read the full interview here.