Page 171 - Design for Environment A Guide to Sustainable Product Development

150 Cha pte r Ei g h t

When considering the environmental implications of product
and process design, companies generally assign the highest priority
to protection of human health and safety, including workers, custom-
ers, and the public at large. However, an additional important con-
sideration is whether the products in question contribute to human
well-being, dignity, and growth. A sustainable enterprise is con-
cerned about human capital renewal—generating respect, commit-
ment, and loyalty on the part of customers, suppliers, employees,
and the broader stakeholder community. Just as the “customer expe-
rience” determines the success of a product, the “stakeholder experi-
ence” determines the long-term success of a company. The following
are important guidelines for the design of products and processes
from a human capital perspective.

Workplace Health, Safety, and Ergonomics
Traditional environmental health and safety practices include meth-
ods for monitoring and controlling routine releases of potentially
toxic or hazardous substances, such as airborne emissions, liquids,
and solid wastes. In the workplace, employees may be exposed daily
to a variety of potential long-term health hazards, including:
• Process emissions such as fumes, vapors, mists, and dust
• Other airborne emissions, such as exhausts and cleaning
fluid vapors
• Industrial chemicals, such as solvents, epoxies, or reagents
• Chronic disease agents, such as lead or asbestos
• Noise, radiation, and other potential hazards
• Repetitive motion and physical strain.

Accordingly, companies and regulatory agencies have developed
extensive procedures for occupational health and hygiene, including
protective equipment, ventilation hoods, exposure monitoring, and
training. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are used routinely to
communicate the toxic or hazardous properties of materials in the
workplace. Ergonomic factors have been studied extensively, en -
abling the design of processes that prevent chronic injuries associated
with lifting, bending, or other repetitive physical activities. Process
safety management programs guard against fires, explosions, spills,
and other life-threatening incidents (see Section D.3, Design for Eco-
nomic Capital). Finally, the design of the workplace environment
itself should be conducive to physical and mental health. There is
increasing evidence that building occupants respond to improved
comfort and well-being by working more productively, making fewer
errors, and being absent from work less often [7].
Example: Herman Miller, a manufacturer of office furniture, is known for
incorporating environmental design into high-quality products such as the