Occupant health and safety risk and opportunity in the delivery of building energy retrofits

Purpose – The process of retrofitting presents occupational health and safety (OHS) challenges, including the possibility of indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, occupational diseases and injuries, exposure to toxic materials and unintentional falls. This has resulted in significant resentment against the retrofit trade. This study aims to clarify the health and safety concerns of occupants in existing South African buildings during the process of retrofitting for energy efficiency. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a qualitative research approach to gather information on how service providers comprehend health and safety concerns during implementation of building energy retrofit projects in existing buildings in South Africa. Findings – The findings from the study identified several OHS concerns associated with building energy retrofit projects. These include the presence and potential disturbance of asbestos-containing materials or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during lighting replacement, the trapping of moisture behind spray foam insulation, mould intrusion during system or component replacement, improperly vented combustion gases and occupant exposure to carbon dioxide (CO₂). Furthermore, the study clarified viable methods for mitigating these issues, which have significant implications for the effective implementation of building energy retrofit projects in existing buildings. Originality/value – The analysis reveals that every operation involved in a building energy retrofit project entails potential OHS implications. Understanding these risks enables stakeholders to develop standardized and optimized approaches for implementing building energy retrofit projects without compromising occupant safety.