Photo: Douglas Sacha/gettyimages
Seoul, South Korea — Worker exposure to air pollution “may significantly increase the risk of safety liability accidents” in multiple industries, according to the results of a recent study.
Researchers analyzed nearly 5,900 safety incidents in China from 2000 to 2020. They examined related air pollution and weather data to investigate the causal effect of fine particulate pollution on safety incidents.
They found that doubling the concentration of particulate matter resulted in 37% more deaths and 51% more serious incidents. In addition, doubling the concentration resulted in a 2.6-fold increase in incident risk, with the effect “particularly pronounced” in energy-intensive sectors such as coal mining and construction.
The researchers add that pollution can boost incident risk via “multiple pathways,” including prolonged exposure, adverse impact on workers’ physical and mental health, and immediate environmental disruption.
In a press release, Ning Zhang, lead study author and associate professor in Yonsei University’s Department of Economics, said he and his fellow researchers hope the study influences future programs intended to improve worker health.
“Over the next five to 10 years, our findings could inform policies linking environmental regulation with workplace safety standards – encouraging industries to include air-quality indicators in their risk management and insurance systems.
“For ordinary people, such changes would mean safer workplaces, cleaner air and more resilient communities.”
The study was published in the journal Energy Economics.
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication