The Correlation Between LEED Construction and Project Safety

by Jonathan McGaha | June 1, 2014 12:00 am

This new question-and-answer format, which allows me to communicate directly to readers is energizing. We enjoy the challenge of answering your questions. This month, I have the opportunity to address a question that was recently received from one of our readers in Michigan:

“How has sustainable construction and the LEED process affected construction safety (and vice versa)?”

I identified this question as an opportunity to further explore the correlation between on-site safety and the LEED effort. I have personally been speaking about this topic for many years, but I have never had the time nor data collection set to be able to test my hypothesis regarding this connection. However, my observations have been clear in that there is a direct relationship between the level of attention the field staff pays to the maintenance of a LEED project site and on-site safety records. The relationship is founded on attention to detail.

A delivery team working on a prospective LEED project must pay close attention to certain items and/or activities that would not be encountered on a non-LEED project. This attention to detail may be motivated by a desire to perform well regarding the LEED requirements of the project, but this enthusiasm for success with the LEED process soon spreads into other aspects of the project management. I have often observed that everyone working on the project demonstrates a level of ownership in it. This is the type of effort and grassroots support needed on a project if the team wishes to be successful in any or all of the project deliverables, including budget, schedule, client satisfaction, sustainability and safety.

Many might question whether there are specific LEED credits that have more of a positive impact on site safety than others, and the answer is absolutely!

The LEED rating has a material and resource credit titled MRc2 Construction Waste Management. This credit can be worth up to three points on the LEED scorecard. The intent of this credit is to divert the largest amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste generated on the project site from landfills. The USGBC requires a team to declare the estimated amount of waste that will be generated during the construction phase of the project, create a Construction Waste Management Plan, document the handling and disposal of C&D waste generated on-site, and finally, record the actual amount of C&D waste generated-landfilled and/or diverted.

A team can be awarded points depending on the amount of C&D waste that was diverted from the local landfill through the team’s recycling efforts. A diversion rate of 50 percent wins one point, while a 75 percent diversion rate is worth two points. A team that can demonstrate a diversion of 95 percent or higher earns an extra credit point under Innovation in Design.

In terms of diverted waste and on-site safety, a clean project site is a safe project site. When every person working on a site is concerned that the trash be placed in the correct container because they understand how important each contribution might be if they are going to reach their three-point goal, they inherently remove the hazards that may exist on other non-LEED project sites.

Workers feel good when they observe that they, or someone else working on the project, are rewarded for removing a hazardous situation from the project when all they were doing was trying to contribute to the three-point goal. That positive reinforcement switches the focus, resulting in an improvement in overall safety performance. This can be seen in recorded slips, trips and falls, eyes on path and minor abrasions to hands or forearms.

There are other credits in the current LEED rating system that were intended to reduce the health risk to those who work in the building-both during construction and once the building is occupied. Those specific credits are found in the Indoor Environmental Quality category. There are four credits that specifically deal with low-emitting materials. The term “low emitting” is related to the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) released from certain building materials. LEED requires the delivery team to prohibit products containing high amounts of VOCs from the project site. LEED does not want these materials used on a LEED project because VOCs can be harmful to a person’s health. Yes, it is true that the level of health impact will vary from individual to individual. However, almost all construction workers on a LEED project site have informed me that they feel better at the end of the day.

The health risk to construction workers exposed to building materials containing high levels of VOCs may not indicate any associated health problems. There are others who may show the effect of VOC exposure after a long gestation. There is a small portion of the workforce that may demonstrate an adverse reaction to any level of VOC exposure immediately upon first exposure. Long-term or fast acting, there is a potential health risk to construction works who are exposed to high levels of VOCs off-gassing from various building materials found on any non-LEED project site. Projects built with no regard to the amount of VOCs in the building products used during construction potentially put their workers at risk, as well as future occupants of the building.

So, how has sustainable construction and the LEED process affected construction safety (and vice versa)? My observations during multiple site audits lead me to the opinion that there is a much higher level of attention paid to worker health and safety on projects seeking LEED certification. There is usually a greater safety risk involved with those projects that may not seek LEED or any other type of sustainable rating system.

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Thomas Taylor, a 30-year veteran of the construction industry and noted expert on sustainability, is the general manager of St. Louis-based Vertegy. His book, “Guide to LEED 2009: Estimating and Preconstruction Strategies,” provides step-by-step information about the LEED 2009 for New Construction process. To learn more about Vertegy or Thomas’ new book, visit www.vertegyconsultants.com[1] for more information.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/the-correlation-between-leed-construction-and-project-safety/

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