Workplace Safety

BRE and the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) today released a new, improved briefing paper that outlines how projects may achieve both a certified BREEAM rating and WELL Certification.

This year has been challenging for sustainability in many respects, but there have also been exciting developments in the sustainability reporting landscape. In this short series, we look back at GRI’s efforts, and at what 2018 has in store.

Gildan’s ownership of its facilities provides it with oversight and control over almost every stage of the production process – starting with the spinning of USA cotton into yarn, to textile production, sewing and finally distribution. This vertical integration allows the company to uncover efficiencies while ensuring safe and healthy work environments for its employees, sustainable solutions in its operations and valuable contributions to its communities.

Design can be about many things: beauty, symmetry, color - but one of the most powerful elements of building and space design is the opportunity to impact and improve the health and well-being of people. Through thoughtful design choices like strategic placement of drinking water stations, selection of non-toxic materials and lighting that aligns with the body’s circadian rhythms, designers can be ambassadors for public health, a mission that we wholeheartedly believe in.

The air we breathe can have a profound effect on our health, wellness and productivity. Air pollution is a growing concern across the world, and as a result it is more important than ever to ensure that our indoor air quality is optimized to support human health. We sat down with the project team that worked on the WELL Certified Haworth Kerry Center in Shanghai to discuss how they implemented design and construction strategies to address the WELL Air concept.

Do you feel like you’re hitting a roadblock in a project or you’re struggling with a step in the certification process? Meet your WELL coaching contact. We’re proud to announce that all WELL projects will now be paired with a WELL coaching contact from a member of IWBI’s Technical Solutions team. Your WELL coaching contact will be your point person to help you, as the WELL AP, navigate the certification process smoothly, overcome challenges, brainstorm solutions and inspire effective implementation of WELL.

Healthcare is a hot topic – who gets it, who pays for it, who insures it. Oftentimes, though, there’s something lost in the discussion and that’s who provides our healthcare. Specifically, who are the people employed to care for others and what are the challenges they face? In some ways, these questions, and their answers, are the most fundamental to hospital and patient outcomes. It’s these doctors, nurses, administrators and support staff who are key to the quality of our entire healthcare system.

In 2016, we sponsored and participated in the tenth annual International Mines Rescue Competition in Sudbury, Ontario. The well-attended competition is a global event focused on improving mine rescue knowledge and safety practices, as well as providing an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their abilities and commitment to excellence in mine safety. There were 27 mine rescue teams, representing 13 nations, competing in a number of events including an underground scenario, firefighting exercises, first aid and a high angle rope rescue.