Tag Archives: green jobs

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Respiratory Safety

MORE ABOUT GREEN JOBS

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As countries strive to develop newer energy sources, “green” jobs have emerged.  We hope you have read our articles on wind energy, solar power, green roofs, and biofuels.  Two more fields that we will talk about are Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Geo-Thermal Energy.  Working in either of these jobs present the same risks that we see in many other occupations.  

Fuel Cells use hydrogen in producing electricity, and electricity is generated as long as this hydrogen fuel is supplied to it.  A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that produces electricity without combustion.  In 1839, Sir William Grove invented the first fuel cell.  Knowing that water could be split into hydrogen and oxygen by sending an electric current through it (electrolysis), he theorized that by reversing that procedure electricity and water could be produced.  His primitive fuel cell was called a gas voltaic battery.  Fifty years later, scientists coined the term fuel cell while attempting to build a more practical model to produce electricity. 

A fuel cell provides a DC (direct current) voltage that can be used to power motors, lights, and any number of electrical appliances.  Fuel cells compete with many other energy conversion devices, including the gas turbine in a city’s power plant, gasoline engines in cars and batteries in laptops.  Combustion engines like the turbine and gasoline engine burn fuels and use the pressure created by the expansion of the gases to do mechanical work.  Batteries convert chemical energy back into electrical energy when needed.  Fuel cells should do both of these tasks more efficiently.

Typical hazards that workers in the Hydrogen Fuel Cells industry are exposed to include:

  • Fire and explosion – hydrogen is flammable gas and must be handled properly.
  • Freeze burns – liquid hydrogen is very cold (-423°).
  • Electrical – arc flash hazard or electrocution. 

Geo-Thermal Energy is rapidly growing throughout the United States.  We recover the heat as steam or hot water  from within the earth’s core, and  use it to heat or cool buildings or generate electricity.  It is a renewable energy source because heat is continuously produced inside the Earth.  Certain geothermal energy systems pump water underground through piping, allowing it to be heated by the earth, and then use the hot water to create electricity.  Temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun are continuously produced inside the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles, a process that happens in all rocks.  Other methods of recovering the earth’s heat is by drilling directly into the Earth’s natural geothermal reservoirs, using the resulting steam and hot water to create electricity.  Some systems use a brine or saltwater solution while others use glycol.  These solutions may pose hazards of their own to workers. 

Hazards associated with this growing industry include some very familiar safety issues that OSHA already has standards on:

  • Trenching and excavations – soil for heat transfer may not be best for stable trenches.
  • Silica – silica sand is a basic component of soil, sand and granite.  It becomes airborne as workers chip, cut or grind objects that contain crystalline silica.  Silica dust is a serious hazard.
  • Electrical –   Workers should use same safe practices as in other electrical fields.
  • Welding and cutting – the same hazards that welders face in any pipe-fitting or welding projects – burns from hot metals, and exposure to ultraviolet light from arc welding.
  • Fall protection – open trenches, excavations, and pits should have guardrails or barriers, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems. 

We understand that workers must have all the proper personal protective equipment needed to match the perils of each particular job.  Personal protective equipment required for these jobs include gloves, safety glasses, hardhats, particulate respirators, and other products, (including the proper gear for welders), as determined by the contractors’ safety engineers.  

While green jobs help to improve the environment and we are grateful for technology to develop other energy sources, some commonly known workplace hazards exist, while others are yet to be identified.  As green jobs progress into excellent energy resources, safety still must be a priority for the workers performing their duties. 

Sources: OSHA, Discovery

General Safety Issues

GREEN JOBS ARE VERY IMPORTANT

With the state of the economy in the United States, it is very important that we search for and support those who are developing important strategies in creating clean and renewable energy.  By investing in clean energy, industries can create thousands of new “green” jobs.  It’s already taking place throughout the country.  By laying the foundation for young generations, the people who work in “green” jobs are forging a new way of life for all of us.  

Solar energy is a growing sector for green energy and green jobs.  Two viable solar energy sectors are solar electric and solar thermal or solar water heating.  By concentrating solar power, solar energy is converted into electricity using photovoltaics.  PV systems are the most common and use semi-conductors and sunlight to make electricity.  Solar water heating systems include direct and indirect (Glycol) systems and are determined mostly by climate. 

Worker’s health and safety hazards exist in installation, manufacture, and maintenance of solar energy.  Workers must understand how to protect themselves from the hazards involved, and employers must protect their workers from these hazards.  OSHA’s Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Standard (29 CFR 1910.269), covers the safe work practices and worker training requirements.  Although solar energy is a growing industry, the hazards are not unique.  Some of the hazards that workers in the solar industry may face are: 

  • Crane and Hoist Safety.  Cranes must be inspected and used properly.   
  • Electrical hazards;
  • Lockout/Tagout;
  • Falls;
  • Heat/Cold Stress.  Workers often work in hot weather where hazards include dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death.  Workers should be monitored by the employer and trained to identify and report symptoms of any heat-related illness.  They may also be exposed to cold weather conditions and should be protected from such conditions. 

Wind energy is another important “green” job.  In our part of the country, these huge “windmills” are popping up everywhere!  These turbines generate electricity from wind, and are being installed all across the nation.  Wind energy workers face many of the same hazards as those in the solar power industry:

  • Confined spaces. If the employee is working in a space large enough to enter and perform assigned work, but is not designed for continuous occupancy by the employee, and has a limited or restricted means of entry or exit.
  • Falls;
  • Lockout/Tagout;
  • Crane and Hoist Safety;
  • Electrical
  • Heat/Cold Stress. 

Of course, the hazards and risks of any particular job require the use of personal protective equipment right for the job.  Those working in solar energy or wind energy fields may require using safety glasses, hard hats, head protection, gloves, respirators, or other PPE. 

“Green” jobs offer work to those who are already trained in specific occupations – such as welders, electricians, and construction workers.  Besides helping our country be more environmentally conscious, these jobs provide new careers with livable wages.  We must put our fellow Americans back to work.  Most of the hazards we have described are commonplace to many occupations.  Training and educating employees in these jobs is a very important part of our future.  Regardless of having a blue-collar job, white-collar job, or “green” job, risks exist, and it is the responsibility of the employer to fulfill its obligation to provide their workers with a safe environment. 

Source: OSHA

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing

GREEN JOBS ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAFE JOBS!

Green Jobs are defined as jobs that help improve the environment.  In addition to revitalizing the economy by putting people back to work, they help the public become more aware of the ways we can all help our planet, each by doing his part to keep Mother Earth in better shape.  Green jobs are not always safe jobs, as we will point out some of the hazards that workers face in two particular “green job” fields:  Biofuels and Green Roofs.  Other green jobs are Wind Energy, Solar, Geo-Thermal Energy, Weather Insulation/Sealing, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, and Recycling, which we will cover in different segments. 

Biofuels have become a fast growing part of the energy sector, because demand for low-carbon impact, domestically produced fuels has increased.  These are created from renewable resources, such as plant biomass, vegetable oils, grains, and treated municipal and industrial wastes.  They can involve potentially dangerous situations, because they are combustible or flammable.  Workers must be protected from hazards of these fuels during their production processes.  The two types of biofuels that are currently being produced in the United States are Ethanol and Biodiesel.     

  • Ethanol is a flammable liquid that is readily ignited at ordinary temperatures.  Renewable ethanol is produced by fermented grains, or by using advanced technologies, from cellulosic materials such as waste paper, wood chips, and agricultural wastes.  The production process can involve other hazardous materials, such as bases, gasoline, and acids.  Up to 10% ethanol is blended with gasoline in most automotive fuel currently sold in the U.S.  Higher ethanol blends up to “E85” (85% ethanol blended with gasoline) are available in some parts of the country.
  • Biodiesel is a combustible liquid that burns readily when heated.  Blending with petroleum diesel fuel or contamination by materials used in manufacturing can increase its flammability.  Biodiesel is produced by combining organic materials, such as vegetable oils, with an alcohol (typically methanol), and using a strong base, such as a caustic, as a catalyst.  Glycerin, a combustible liquid, is produced as a by-product.  The caustic is neutralized with acid, typically sulfuric acid.  All of these materials may require careful management to protect workers.  Biodiesel is widely available.

This type of work will require extensive safety planning and training and the correct type of personal protective equipment (PPE), for workers who are exposed to the making of these biofuels.  From eyewear and face protection, to protective clothing and gloves, employers must  provide PPE to their employees. 

Green Roofs are steadily growing in popularity throughout urban areas in the United States.  The oldest Green Roof in the U.S. is on top of Rockefeller Center in New York.  Although the Rockefeller rooftop garden was built in 1930, interest in Green Roof technology has only occurred within the last 15 years.  Chicago, New York, and Portland are leaders in implementing Green Roof technology in the U.S.   Landscapers and roofing contractors are becoming more involved with installing green roofs, which are most often installed by green roof specialty companies.  Maintenance of a green roof falls under OSHA’s general industry standards.  The safety challenges associated with this growing industry have some new and often familiar safety issues.  In addition to wearing the proper type of PPE that fits the job, fall-arrest systems are very important. 

We will talk more about other green jobs soon.  In the meantime, if you are sipping a cool one on your “green roof” or driving to your favorite pub in your ethanol-burning new vehicle, have a safe and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!   If you aren’t doing either of those things, have a good time celebrating with the Irish!  (Don’t forget to wear green.)