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Category: Green Construction

Improving Safety for Green Construction

Improving Safety for Green Construction

Energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, occupant health—these concerns and more are driving the green building trend and surge in U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified structures. The council predicts total revenue across the eco-friendly construction industry will grow to $290 billion by 2017, and they intend to certify 1 million commercial buildings by 2020.

Unfortunately, the benefits that green construction provides building owners—including reduced operating expenses, higher asset value and a reputation for environmental stewardship—may come at a cost to construction employees. In fact, a study conducted by the Center for Construction Research and Training suggests that LEED-focused construction projects pose notably higher risks to workers.

Much of this risk comes from exposing workers on green construction projects to tasks and materials that are unfamiliar to them. For example, workers on LEED construction sites may have to work at height while installing solar panels and skylights. They may have to work with vegetated roofing materials and reflective roof membranes. The projects often require them to work with electrical current, near unstable soils and near heavy equipment for a greater period than they would on a traditional project.

Upon examination of the information gathered during the study—from site inspections and project documentation to job-hazard analysis and injury reports—the researchers determined that 14 LEED credentials could contribute to higher risks to construction employees. These included:

  • Sustainable construction waste management – 36 percent increased risk of lacerations, strains and sprains
  • Installation of photo voltaic panels – 24 percent increased risk of falls to a lower level
  • Installation of reflective roof membranes – 19 percent increased risk of eyestrain
  • Installation of green waste water technologies – 14 percent increased risk of exposure to harmful substances

While the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has yet to do so, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), issued specific green-building construction safety guidelines in 2013. They noted that green buildings are often tightly sealed and heavily insulated, increasing worker exposure to dust and dangerous compounds during construction. They also noted that green renovations present their own unique hazards, particularly worker encounters with fiberglass and rock wool insulation fibers.

Green building contractors can do the following to improve safety for their workers:

  • Take the time to conduct a comprehensive hazard analysis before you begin any green construction project.
  • Ensure you’ve trained all workers on the hazards they may encounter due to new materials or installation processes.
  • Whenever possible, use low VOC materials to reduce health-related risks in enclosed environments.
  • Decrease reflectivity by choosing tan or light gray roofing membranes rather than white. Alternatively, require your workers to wear tinted eyewear during installation.
  • Ask designers to place photovoltaic panels closer to the ground or in the center of the roof. Consider higher parapets and designed tie-off points to reduce fall risk further.
  • Enlist a local third-party waste management company to sort and recycle construction materials offsite.

Whether you’re a green construction veteran or considering your first eco-friendly project, make sure your risk management plan addresses the increased worker safety risks of green building. Consult your insurance professional for further insight and a plan review today.

How to Become a Green General Contractor

How to Become a Green General ContractorFor those who are interested in becoming green general contractors, it is important to follow the right steps to become certified. Since every contractor must have a state-issued license, individuals should contact their state’s contractor licensing division. People who do not yet have their licenses can review specific state guidelines by visiting the NASCLA’s site at www.nascla.org.

The next step is to satisfy all state requirements. In some states, a bachelor’s degree is required in order to receive a license. While some states do not have this requirement in place, it is still helpful for individuals to have four-year degrees in order to make themselves more marketable. Contractors usually have degrees in physics, engineering, math or similar areas. Some states may also require applicants to have several years of practical work experience. This means people who have worked for several years as construction workers, carpenters or in other positions may apply in some states. After satisfying all state requirements, applicants must take and pass the state test.

Green Building License

Contractors who are interested in green certification should spend some time familiarizing themselves with national accreditation options. In order to become certified, training in one of the national accreditation programs is required. BPI (Building Performance Institute) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are the most popular choices. The extra training helps contractors learn about state funding incentives for homes and businesses using green improvements. Programs are designed to give contractors a broad knowledge base of various tasks. However, some programs focus mainly on one or more areas.

After choosing a training program and completing it, contractors must take BPI or LEED exams. Some contractors may take several courses. There is no right or wrong choice, so contractors should pick one or more areas that interest them or relate to their type of business. It is also important to consider local needs. For example, solar power may be more popular in the Southwest than it is in the Northwest. Some common specialization choices include retrofit or rehabilitation, energy audits, lighting systems, solar or photovoltaic panel installation, heating systems and cooling systems.

After completing a course and taking the related exam, it is important to research what kind of continuing education is required. Continuing education is necessary for retaining a green certification. Once the training and tests have been completed, contractors should begin looking for suppliers of green materials. The key to finding such suppliers is to look locally or nearby. Importing materials uses natural resources, which can be counterproductive to the cause of going green. Look for recycled materials and items that are made with non-toxic paint.

The last step is advertising and finding clients. Advertising with the local chamber of commerce is a good way to start. Contractors may also check with the U.S. Green Building Council to advertise with a local chapter. For more information about green certification and insurance, discuss concerns with an agent.

 

Talk to a Commercial Property Specialist about Green Insurance

Green Insurance

Developed in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System established standards for the design, construction and operation of new and renovated green buildings. Since then the popularity of environmentally friendly design has skyrocketed. According to McGraw-Hill Construction’s 2013 Dodge Construction Green Outlook report, analysts expect the value of commercial and residential green building to reach $106 billion, a substantial increase from $10 billion in 2005.

By 2016, they expect green building will account for 55 percent of all commercial and institutional construction projects as well as 38 percent of single-family residential construction. Of course, as the demand for green building increases, the risks associated with constructing LEED certified structures will continue to evolve. Consider the following issues for which you may not have adequate coverage under a traditional insurance policy.

Construction Defect Issues

LEED certified buildings often use new techniques and systems to achieve their green status. Features like wind turbines, fuel cells and vegetative roofs are so new that they are still relatively unproven. This means you’re facing unknown potential construction defect risks.

Performance Issues

If you promise a client that the construction project you’re working on will meet LEED standards or attain a certain LEED certification level (ranging from certified to platinum), you could be liable if the finished building does not deliver on that promise.

Recertification

Should your construction project incur a loss—due to fire, wind, theft or vandalism, for example—you will need to have it recertified. This can be quite expensive.

Restoration

The cost of restoring LEED buildings is more expensive than that of regular construction. For example, a traditional property insurance policy will cover the cost of rebuilding a structure using traditional construction methods. In the case of a LEED certified building, many of the materials and techniques used are more costly and may not be covered.

With an ever-increasing focus on energy efficiency and environmentally friendly materials, it is likely green building is more than a passing trend. Talk to your commercial property specialist about “green insurance” and appropriate riders to ensure your LEED certified construction projects have adequate protection.

Construction and Hazardous Waste

Construction and Hazardous WasteWhether you work in residential or commercial construction, your crew may encounter or generate hazardous wastes. It’s your responsibility to ensure they know how to identify and separate these hazardous materials—from paints and solvents to adhesives and caulks—from the non-hazardous before engaging in proper disposal. Make mistakes and your construction company may incur fines and face property damage lawsuits.

Why is Hazardous Waste a Big Deal?

Hazardous wastes can pollute land, air and water. They can also endanger human and animal health. Improper disposal—for example, with nonhazardous waste—can pose a health threat to workers and cause problems at landfills. It’s also illegal in many areas. Dispose of hazardous construction waste incorrectly and federal or state law may require you to pay for costly cleanup projects.

Regulations related to hazardous waste include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Hazardous Material Transportation Act (HMTA), the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Additionally, 40 CFR 260-279 addresses federal regulations for hazardous waste management.

What is a Hazardous Waste Exactly?

Hazardous waste includes construction waste that exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity. Ignitable wastes are those with flash points below 140°F. Examples include solvents and mineral spirits. Corrosive wastes are water-based liquids with a pH less than 2.0 or greater than 12.5. Examples of corrosive wastes include battery acid and alkaline cleaning solvents. Reactive wastes, such as hydrogen sulfide and bleach, are unstable and readily undergo violent chemical reactions when they encounter water or other substances. Toxic wastes, which include lead paint and some adhesives, are harmful due to the presence of metals or organic compounds.

Within the construction environment, you or your crew may encounter thermostats containing mercury, lead paint, lead pipes, fluorescent lamps, hazardous varieties of glues and roofing tars, PCB caulking, mercury or lead-based batteries, aerosol and asbestos among other potentially dangerous materials. Common hazardous chemicals include ammonia, fluorine, nitric acid and sulfur dioxide.

You can find more information on hazardous wastes in the in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) catalog of hazardous and solid waste publications.

How Do I Get Rid of It?

If you uncover or generate hazardous waste during construction, contact a reliable hazardous waste management company or a treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facility. Some landfills will accept certain hazardous wastes as well. To mitigate risk to your workers and the environment, construction contractors should always follow EPA, state and municipal laws and stay informed of hazardous waste regulatory changes on all government levels. You should include hazardous waste discovery and disposal in every site plan and address associated risks in your safety plan.

Green Construction Increases Worker Safety Risks

Green Construction Increases Worker Safety Risks

 

Energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, occupant health—these concerns and more are driving the green building trend and surge in U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified structures. The council predicts total revenue across the eco-friendly construction industry will grow to $245 billion by 2016, and they intend to certify 1 million commercial buildings by 2020.

Unfortunately, the benefits that green construction provides building owners—including reduced operating expenses, higher asset value and a reputation for environmental stewardship—may come at a cost to construction employees. In fact, a study conducted by the Center for Construction Research and Training suggests that LEED-focused construction projects pose notably higher risks to workers.

Much of this risk comes from exposing workers on green construction projects to tasks and materials that are unfamiliar to them. For example, workers on LEED construction sites may have to work at height while installing solar panels and skylights. They may have to work with vegetated roofing materials and reflective roof membranes. The projects often require them to work with electrical current, near unstable soils and near heavy equipment for a greater period than they would on a traditional project.

Upon examination of the information gathered during the study—from site inspections and project documentation to job-hazard analysis and injury reports—the researchers determined that 14 LEED credentials could contribute to higher risks to construction employees. These included:

  • Sustainable construction waste management – 36 percent increased risk of lacerations, strains and sprains
  • Installation of photo voltaic panels – 24 percent increased risk of falls to a lower level
  • Installation of reflective roof membranes – 19 percent increased risk of eyestrain
  • Installation of green waste water technologies – 14 percent increased risk of exposure to harmful substances

While the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has yet to do so, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), issued specific green-building construction safety guidelines in 2013. They noted that green buildings are often tightly sealed and heavily insulated, increasing worker exposure to dust and dangerous compounds during construction. They also noted that green renovations present their own unique hazards, particularly worker encounters with fiberglass and rock wool insulation fibers.

Green building contractors can do the following to improve safety for their workers:

  • Take the time to conduct a comprehensive hazard analysis before you begin any green construction project.
  • Ensure you’ve trained all workers on the hazards they may encounter due to new materials or installation processes.
  • Whenever possible, use low VOC materials to reduce health-related risks in enclosed environments.
  • Decrease reflectivity by choosing tan or light gray roofing membranes rather than white. Alternatively, require your workers to wear tinted eyewear during installation.
  • Ask designers to place photovoltaic panels closer to the ground or in the center of the roof. Consider higher parapets and designed tie-off points to reduce fall risk further.
  • Enlist a local third-party waste management company to sort and recycle construction materials offsite.

Whether you’re a green construction veteran or considering your first eco-friendly project, make sure your risk management plan addresses the increased worker safety risks of green building. Consult your insurance professional for further insight and a plan review today.