New Coalition Launches on Capitol Hill to Advance Policy Push for Workplace Health and Safety More than 40 national organizations, industry leaders and trade associations join to create the Healthy Workplaces Coalition, which will focus on advocating for healthier and safer buildings
WASHINGTON
|
May 25, 2022 11:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2022 /3BL Media/ - The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and ISSA–The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association announced today the launch of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition, a new coalition of more than 40 national organizations, industry leaders and trade associations collaborating 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.
Members of this new advocacy coalition launched on Capitol Hill will work together to not only support federal policy promoting healthy workplaces, but also raise awareness 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.
In addition to IWBI and ISSA, the Coalition’s leadership team includes the following Steering Committee members:
- 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)
“For the first time, many of the nation’s most important building organizations and leading businesses are uniting to advocate for workplace health,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO of IWBI. “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.”
Over the past two years, businesses across the country have struggled to meet new and evolving expectations for safely returning to the workplace. According to a recent Honeywell survey, 72% of office workers worldwide worry about air quality in their workplaces’ buildings. They are concerned about the impact of poor air quality on their well-being and want more information from their employers about actions taken to improve the built environment and support the health and safety of employees and patrons alike.
“While COVID-19 increased the public’s attention to the importance of cleaning, air filtration, and hand hygiene, there is now an increased focus and commitment by businesses and buildings to invest in healthy spaces,” said John Barrett, Executive Director, ISSA – The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. “As more workers head back to physical workplaces, the demand and expectation for clean, healthy, and safe environments will continue to increase. This coalition will help to educate policymakers about the need to support policies to help employers make these essential investments in healthy workplaces.”
Businesses need education and financial assistance to accelerate and deploy proven workplace solutions and strategies to address health threats such as COVID-19 as well as broader health and safety-related issues of the future. While several relevant policy proposals have emerged, further action is needed to incentivize businesses to create and maintain healthy workplaces.
Other members of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition include A SustainAble Production (ASAP); Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); American Hotel & Lodging Association; American Industrial Hygiene Association; Arxada; Business + Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA); Carrier Global Corporation; Daikin U.S. Corporation; Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance; Fellowes Brands; FMI- Food Industry Association; Global Green; Honeywell; Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA); Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association; Institute for Market Transformation (IMT); Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure; International Codes Council (ICC); International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA); Johnson Controls; Kimberly-Clark Professional; M Moser Associates; Mindful Materials; Plastarc; Poppy; PortionPac Chemical Corporation; Pritchard Industries; Schneider Electric; Spartan Chemical Company; Sustainable Investment Group; The IAPMO Group and Trane Technologies.
The Coalition’s Steering Committee continues to welcome interested participants and anticipates that membership will expand over the next several months.
What leaders are saying about the launch of the coalition:
“American Institute of Architects (AIA) remains steadfastly committed to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public,” said
“We are thrilled about the long-anticipated launch of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition – which aims to help businesses and other organizations implement health and safety improvements in workplaces and across the built environment,” said
“ASHRAE’s longstanding commitment to drive health and human comfort in buildings aligns perfectly with the Healthy Workplaces Coalition,” said
“The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is proud to be a founding partner of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition,” said
“The pandemic has unquestionably heightened the world’s focus on indoor environments and how they can positively impact public health,” said
“The launch of the Healthy Workplaces Coalition is a significant step by IWBI and ISSA to connect industry and policymakers to promote health and wellness in workplaces and buildings,” said
“When it comes to the benefits of providing healthy workplaces, there is no shortage of research, only a shortage of resources,” said
“Workers are much more cognizant of the spaces they spend time in then they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they want viable evidence that the buildings they use every day for work, school or care are healthier and use technology that helps to foster their well-being,” said
“Taking a holistic approach to the well-being of workers and workplaces has never been more urgent. Every individual, industry and team that has a hand in workplace strategy must work together to create and sustain safe, healthy, inclusive, net-positive spaces that enrich the lives of all stakeholders,” said
“We’re proud to join the Healthy Workplaces Coalition at this critical time when employees are returning to their workplaces and students are returning to their schools. Delivering healthier buildings with enhanced indoor quality as well as comfortable, safe and sustainable environments has been at the heart of our mission at Johnson Controls for 135 years,” said
“Together with other industry leaders, Kimberly-Clark Professional is proud to participate in the Healthy Workplaces Coalition to help advance the health and safety of workplace environments,” said
“Revitalizing downtown communities hit hard by the pandemic depends on getting America’s workers back to the office place – and supporting the mom-and-pop restaurants and stores that serve our central business districts,” said
“Americans spend 90% of their time indoors and as more of us are going back to the office, the work and mission of the Healthy Workplace Coalition has never been more critical,” said
About the International WELL Building InstituteThe International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world’s leading organization focused on deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and the WELL Health-Safety Rating, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources, and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.
International WELL Building Institute pbc is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delos Living LLC. International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Portfolio Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Health-Equity, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Performance Rating, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.
Media Contact:Jason Hartkejason.hartke@wellcertified.com
View original content here.
