Objective · HS01
Concept HS Health, Safety, + Wellness
Ensure a safe, healthy built environment that contributes to impacted party wellbeing.
4 activities
The built environment profoundly affects physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. Because of this intrinsic relationship between the built environment and the holistic well-being of its occupants and surrounding communities, SEAM integrates strategies rooted in scientific research to optimize the health, safety, and wellness of building occupants and surrounding communities.
Research consistently highlights the critical importance of safety measures on job sites, building structural integrity, and space design to ensure the well-being of occupants and the broader community. Implementing stringent safety protocols on job sites significantly reduces the risk of accidents and injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States emphasizes the necessity of adhering to safety standards and providing workers with the training and equipment needed to navigate the inherent risks of construction work184. This commitment to safety protects workers and minimizes the negative impacts associated with workplace accidents.
The safety of built structures is equally crucial. The International Building Code (IBC) provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring that buildings can withstand environmental stresses and are safe for occupancy185. Adherence to these codes ensures that structures are not only physically safe but also contribute to the health and safety of their occupants by incorporating fire safety measures, emergency exits, and accessibility features.
Additionally, incorporating safety, health, and well-being into the design can positively impact communities. Well-planned urban spaces incorporating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles can significantly reduce crime rates and enhance community safety186. Features such as adequate lighting, visibility, natural surveillance, community engagement, and ownership of public spaces foster environments where safety and social well-being are intertwined.
Integrating strategies rooted in scientific research aims to ensure that buildings and spaces are safe, health-promoting, and conducive to well-being.
Activities
- HSa1.1
Enhance human health and wellness for occupants of the property through a science-based system of strategies
ImpactThe Owner shall ensure occupant health and wellness by applying evidence-based strategies aligned with an internationally recognized and accepted standard and demonstrate compliance through an official certification.
- HSa1.2
Safeguard community health, safety, and wellness
ImpactThe Owner shall assess and aim to eliminate negative impacts its operations may have on the surrounding areas. If they cannot do so, they should mitigate the effects of disruptive and harmful activities in residential and other community areas.
- HSa1.3
Provide safe and healthy jobsites and prevent work-related injury and ill health by eliminating hazards and minimizing occupational health & safety risks
ImpactThe Owner is responsible for establishing and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment on the project site for all workers, including those employed by suppliers and contractors, during both construction (B+I) projects and operations (O+M) projects. This activity involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating occupational health and safety risks in compliance with the highest applicable health and safety standards—whether national, regional, or international—that provide the greatest level of protection to workers. The scope includes jobsite activities directly related to the project, as well as transportation to and from the site when required for the project. External factors beyond the Owner’s control and activities unrelated to the project site are excluded.
- HSa1.4
Provide safe and secure structure of all occupiable spaces by ensuring structural integrity and compliance with fire safety
ImpactThe Owner shall ensure the structural integrity and safety of all occupiable spaces within the project. This entails rigorous adherence to established structural standards, and the implementation of measures to ensure compliance with fire safety standards for occupants, addressing both internal building elements and external factors that can influence the safety of the building's occupants. Safety elements other than structural integrity and fire safety are outside the scope of this Activity.