New research shows that renewable energy is safer for workers
Workers employed in renewable energy producing industries are less at risk from workplace injuries than those in traditional fossil fuel industries new research reveals.
Dr Steven Sumner of Duke University Medical Center, and Dr Peter Layde, Department of Population Health, Medical College of Wisconsin, have had their findings published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, examining occupational health risks to United States workers in renewable energy industries compared to fossil fuel industries, with some interesting, if not surprising results.
They studied the human health risks associated with traditional fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, relative to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biomass, and found wind and solar energy offered less risk of workplace injury and death than traditional fossil fuel industries, as the dangerous energy extraction phase is minimised or eliminated in wind or solar energy production.
The researchers reviewed the occupational cost of energy production in the traditional and new energies and noted that while fossil fuel energies have historically been priced lower than renewable energies, the additional hidden costs, or externalities of energy, especially adverse effects on human health have often not been taken into account. Externalities of energy production include a whole host of problems from damage to the general environment to adverse effects on human health caused by pollution to injury and death among workers.
According to Dr Sumner: “The energy sector remains one of the most dangerous industries for US workers. A transition to renewable energy generation utilising sources such as wind and solar could potentially eliminate 1,300 worker deaths over the coming decade.”
Mining, which includes coal, gas, and oil extraction from underground or underwater stores, is the second most hazardous occupation in the US with 27.5 deaths per 100,000, compared to the average annual fatality rate of 3.4 deaths for all US industries. Additionally, fossil fuel workers risk unintended injuries from extraction, and are exposed to hazardous particles, gases and radiation.
As Dr Layde reports: “Previous research on the health effects of a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy has focused on the environmental benefits of renewable energy on air quality and global warming. The benefits of reduced workplace injury and fatality have not been sufficiently emphasised in the debate to move to renewable energies. This will be an added benefit to US energy workers.”
