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As the economy changes, OSHA has signaled it intends to keep up with the times by focusing on new industries as they emerge.

That’s the warning from the new head of OSHA, David Michaels.

In a speech to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Michaels said, while creating green jobs is great, he’s concerned that “employers who race into this green economy without paying attention to worker safety will blunder into many preventable injuries and deaths.”

Michaels warns that when he hears:

• weatherization and renovation, OSHA sees exposure to lead and asbestos
• insulation, OSHA thinks exposure to toxic materials like isocyanates
• rooftop solar power, OSHA sees fall hazards, and
• wind energy, OSHA worries about lockout hazards.

For advice on keeping green jobs safe, click here.

Tags: David Michaels, green jobs, NIOSH