Campbell Institute: Safety is Underrepresented in Workplace Sustainability Efforts

ITASCA, Ill., Dec. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Sustainability programs have existed for decades, but their main emphasis has focused on environmental metrics. While these "green" efforts are certainly a part of sustainability, there is a growing trend that a more equal distribution around environmental, social and economic factors – including occupational safety and health – should be recognized. The Campbell Institute – the National Safety Council center of excellence for environmental, health and safety management – has released a new white paper entitled Profiles in Sustainability: Business, Community, and Environment to demonstrate the connection between worker safety and health and true sustainability.

"It has become increasingly clear that sustainability must go beyond 'green' efforts," said John Dony, director of the Campbell Institute and director of environmental, health, safety and sustainability at the National Safety Council.  "Campbell Institute members know there is a strong link between occupational safety and health and sustainability that organizations need to recognize. Businesses are only as sustainable as their people. "

The white paper, which contains real world experiences of eight Institute members, outlines their best practices for developing and managing sustainability efforts. It explains how sustainability implies a corporate responsibility not only to the planet, but also to the organization's people by protecting worker health and safety, and to profitability by ensuring a viable business for many years to come. Five common areas were identified among the research participants, including:

• Defining sustainability according to a "triple bottom line" approach
• Using recognized standards to report on sustainability
• Expressing a need for more and better metrics for return on sustainability efforts
• Finding better leading metrics for sustainability and more ways to correlate environmental sustainability with safety
• Developing aspirational yet attainable sustainability goals

Organizations contributing to the research include AES, Cummins, FCA, ISN, Mosaic, Owens Corning, United Rentals and USG. To learn more about this Campbell Institute research, register to attend a webinar on Jan. 11, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. CST. You can also visit thecampbellinstitute.org/research for more information.

The National Safety Council and Campbell Institute also contributed to the new OSHA white paper addressing this shift, "Sustainability in the Workplace: A New Approach for Advancing Worker Protections," and strongly support further innovation in expanding the common focus areas of sustainability.

About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities. Safety+Health magazine, the Council's flagship publication, is a leading source of occupational safety and health information.

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SOURCE National Safety Council

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