Workplace Health and Safety to be Pushed on Capitol Hill

The “built environment” as it is called is known for its caring and concerned approach to real estate development.

This week, a collection of more than 40 national organizations, industry leaders and trade associations joined to create the Healthy Workplaces Coalition, which will focus on advocating for healthier and safer buildings.

Through Capitol Hill, its goal is to “support and advance federal policy aimed at helping businesses and organizations better afford and implement health and safety improvements in workplaces and across the built environment—to benefit the health and well-being of employees, customers and the public.”

Announced by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and ISSA, the coalition also will raise awareness of the topic, using a collective voice to help the public, policymakers and businesses understand the imperative of workplace health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

“For the first time, many of the nation’s most important building organizations and leading businesses are uniting to advocate for workplace health,” Rachel Hodgdon, president and CEO of IWBI said in prepared remarks. “This kind of collaborative advocacy will help drive the level of investment necessary to get us safely back to business now and fortify our workplaces for the future.”

Steering Committee Well Represented

The coalition’s steering committee is represented by American Institute of Architects (AIA), ASHRAE, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA), Green Seal, International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), The Real Estate Roundtable (RER), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and IWBI and ISSA.

Among other specifics, the coalition will address air quality. It cited that a recent Honeywell survey found 72% of office workers worldwide worry about air quality in their workplaces’ buildings.