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Sustainable production: a proposed strategy for the work environment
M M Quinn1, D Kriebel, K Geiser
1Department of Work Environment, College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, USA. margaret_quinn@uml.edu
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|September 29, 1998
Summary
Sustainable production integrates environmental, health, and safety (EHS) concerns into process design, moving beyond traditional pollution prevention. This approach enhances productivity and economic viability by redesigning production processes.
Area of Science:
- Industrial Engineering
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Current pollution prevention models lack explicit integration of occupational health, safety, and work environment concerns.
- Competitive industries require designs balancing productivity with environmental, health, and safety (EHS) considerations.
- The field of occupational health and safety (OHS) can significantly enhance existing pollution prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new framework, "sustainable production," integrating EHS with productivity and economic viability.
- To shift the focus of OHS from end-of-pipe solutions to proactive process redesign.
- To establish a holistic approach to production process design.
Main Methods:
- Expanding work environment disciplines beyond "end-of-pipe" assessments.
- Incorporating materials selection and process redesign into OHS strategies.
- Developing a framework where the production process is the basic unit for sustainable design.
Main Results:
- Sustainable production reframes EHS concerns as complementary, not antagonistic, to productivity and economic development.
- Shifting OHS focus to process design minimizes health, safety, and environmental risks.
- Interdisciplinary team participation is crucial for designing and redesigning production processes.
Conclusions:
- The role of OHS professionals must expand to include process evaluation and redesign.
- This expansion necessitates new research for the scientific and public policy foundation of sustainable production.
- Sustainable production offers a strategy for aligning EHS goals with business objectives.
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