Energy production is transforming as the world moves from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Although the transition is helping to combat climate change and prevent ecological damage, the green jobs market carries several occupational safety hazards, as does the traditional energy landscape.

Understanding the risks associated with fossil fuel production and the need for greater worker safety in clean energy allows industry leaders to make more informed decisions and progress toward a sustainable energy future where everyone is healthy and protected.

The Adverse Environmental Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Production

Traditional energy production has a high environmental footprint, driven by raw material extraction, power plant operations, distribution and waste disposal. Many businesses still rely on fossil fuels despite the ecological and human health impacts. 

Air Quality

The United States is home to over 3,400 fossil fuel-fired power plants, the greatest sources of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury and fine particle emissions. These plants also release significant carbon dioxide emissions, which is a primary contributor to climate change.

The combination of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere can cause acid rain to fall, whether from precipitation, fog, gases, aerosols or particles. This reaction can decrease air quality, impact visibility, and harm aquatic life when exposed to polluted lakes and streams. 

Ground-level ozone also makes plants vulnerable to diseases, fungi and pest infestations, negatively affecting the health and diversity of biological communities. 

Water and Soil Contamination

The oil and gas industry and mining majorly contaminate water and soil. The activities involved in both sectors use ample water resources for extraction and operations. For instance, oil and gas production relies on water for drilling, fracturing and well injections, while mining requires it to pump and transport minerals through pipelines. Both operations deplete groundwater resources and contaminate aquifers.

Likewise, 40% of the world’s energy still derives from coal. Coal combustion generates 1.1 billion tons of coal combustion residues yearly. About half end up in landfills or wet ash ponds. Coal ash damages the environment by leaching toxic metals and other pollutants into water and soil, especially when stored in unlined ponds and landfills.

Public Health Effects

Nearly 64 million Americans live in energy communities across 46 states. These locations are brownfields, coal communities or fossil fuel communities as defined by the Inflation Reduction Act. 

While many consider these areas to be the heartbeat of the U.S. — providing revenue and employment opportunities — nearby energy plants bear adverse public health effects. For example, Black and Hispanic populations living within about 21.7 miles of coal power plants had worse pulmonary function than those further away.

While nuclear power plants have produced 20% of the total electricity in the U.S. since 1990, they also increase the surrounding community’s risk of disease. According to one study, residents living within around 18.6 miles of a nuclear plant have a 5% increased risk of cancer. Among these cases, there was a 17% higher prevalence of thyroid cancer and a 9% higher risk for leukemia. 

Occupational Hazards of Green Energy Production

Investments in green energy production have been vital to reducing the environmental impact of traditional energy generation. Homeowners have opted for alternative clean electricity sources to power their homes. Commercial property managers can procure energy from private suppliers in deregulated states, allowing buyers more control and options in a competitive yet affordable market.

Renewable energy has a lower ecological footprint than fossil fuel energy production. Researchers have observed a 40% drop in ozone measured by population density, while particulate matter decreases by 50% in a clean energy scenario. Although this ultimately creates a healthier planet, workers in the green energy landscape face several occupational hazards. 

For example, employees may get injured during the manufacturing, installation and maintenance of solar panels or wind turbines, including arc flashes and burns, thermal burns, electric shocks, and falls. Some may even endure exposure to chemicals or heat stress during production and equipment setup.

New materials with unknown long-term health outcomes could negatively affect green energy workers' well-being. Photovoltaic solar panel installers may handle semiconductors with toxic cadmium telluride. Meanwhile, those in the biomass industry may be exposed to heavy metals, poisonous gases, volatile organic compounds, mold, dust, and carcinogens. This doesn’t include the potential for handling noise and vibration, cuts, puncture wounds, or other hazardous conditions. 

Improving Environmental Health Monitoring

Traditional and renewable energy production has different environmental impacts. Just because the shift toward renewable energy is more environmentally sound doesn’t mean it’s a perfect solution. Industry professionals must consider the following for monitoring ecological health in the energy landscape.

Air quality: Apply advanced emission-control technologies, set standards for workplace exposure limits, and establish air contaminant monitoring and compliance programs.

Water quality: Monitor groundwater contaminant levels, create measures to prevent and mitigate spills, and improve wastewater treatment.

Soil health: Create waste disposal procedures, build stronger containment structures and develop new remediation methods.

Advocating for more robust environmental health policies is another critical step industry players can take to lower the ecological impacts of energy production. 

Worker Safety in Clean Energy Production

As the world draws its attention toward climate change and improving sustainability, there’s a growing need to enhance worker health and safety. Emerging technologies in renewable energy are as unfamiliar as the associated occupational risks. Therefore, the energy sector must revise age-old health and safety rules for green jobs. 

Improving worker safety in energy production should entail robust training and personal protective gear to prevent harm. Regular risk assessments of potential job hazards, health risks and environmental impacts are also necessary.

Environmental Health and Safety Go Hand in Hand in the Energy Sector

Safeguarding environmental health and worker safety is crucial for achieving a greener energy landscape. As the world sets its sights on renewables, it's important to prioritize new occupational hazard prevention and ecological protection.