It’s Not Easy Being Green
(or, What Can We Do to Help Our Environment)
By Allan Kaufman, Director, The Compliance Resource Center
 
I recently became a volunteer scuba diver at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.  Through my involvement with Shedd Aquarium, Greater Chicago ASSE, and the safety community, I have become more aware of my community and its environment, and the environment is not looking very good.  Therefore, this article will discuss two issues concerning our environment and how we can have an impact to bring about change.   The two issues concern the Great Lakes and Building

The first concern is our Great Lakes.    Do you remember the acronym HOMES?  That is what many people use to remember the names of the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior).  These Great Lakes provide over 20% of the world’s fresh water.  In Chicago and the surrounding communities, Lake Michigan provides a majority of the drinking water, which is rated excellent by independent sources.  However, are toxic pollutants, such as mercury and agricultural pesticides, have threatened you aware that the Great Lakes water quality?   This is OUR drinking water and our CHILDREN’S drinking water.  These chemicals enter the aquatic system through direct dumping, such as paper mill waste, or indirect pathways, such as field-water run-off and power plant air pollution. 
Every summer beaches in the Chicago area are closed because of the high level of e-coli and other bacteria in the water.  These threats occur from untreated sewage or animal waste entering the water.  Did you know that fishing and boating on the Great Lakes is a 10 billion dollar industry?  Pollution is also having a dramatic negative effect on these industries..  These chemicals enter the aquatic system through direct dumping, such as paper mill waste, or indirect pathways, such as field-water run-off and power plant air pollution. 
Every summer beaches in the Chicago area are closed because of the high level of e-coli and other bacteria in the water.  These threats occur from untreated sewage or animal waste entering the water.  Did you know that fishing and boating on the Great Lakes is a 10 billion dollar industry?  Pollution is also having a dramatic negative effect on these industries. 
What can we do as safety professionals and people who live in the communities around the Great Lakes?  Have an environmentally sound work place, and make your employees aware of their community’s response to the environment.  A good place to start is the link below. www.greatlakesforever.org/html/aboutus.html  (more…)