Environmental justice requires that all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, have the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards.” OPAL – Environmental Justice Oregon
Environmental justice is a critical element of the QuietGA effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of gas powered leaf blowers.
The use of gas leaf blowers pose serious health risks for the lawn care company employees. Employees of these crews, who often work all day, all week, moving from one property to another, are constantly breathing and inhaling known carcinogens such as formaldehyde, benzene, and other fumes.
Environmental health advocates remind us of studies of landscapers wearing monitoring devices revealing that ultrafine particle levels are 50 times higher around a gas leaf blower than at a clogged intersection at rush hour.
Noise from gas leaf blowers commonly exceeds the threshold of 85 decibels at which permanent hearing damage occurs from extended exposure. Many lawn care services are not compliant with OSHA regulations and the workers are subjected to risks from cancer causing agents and permanent hearing loss.
Most workers don’t have a say in the equipment they’re required to use. No one will benefit more immediately and over time from the elimination of gas-powered leaf blowers than the workers who use them.
There is no evidence that regulations restricting gas powered leaf blower use have an adverse economic impact on lawn care companies, maintenance contractors or workers.
For the health of workers, for the public health of all citizens and for our environment, it’s time for our elected officials to recognize the urgency of this matter and eliminate the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.