Safety Engineering and the SDGs: Bridging Occupational Health, Environmental Protection, and Poverty Reduction

Safety engineering is increasingly recognized as a strategic enabler of sustainable development and poverty alleviation, yet its role remains underexplored in global sustainable development discourse. This paper critically examined the intersection of safety engineering and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Drawing on an integrative literature review of peer-reviewed studies and international organizational reports, the article demonstrated how safety engineering enhances occupational health, safeguards the environment, and strengthens resilience against poverty-inducing shocks from workplace incidents and environmental hazards. The study employed theoretical perspectives from occupational health, environmental justice, and human capital development to position safety engineering as a cross-cutting tool that links individual well-being, environmental protection, and economic productivity. Case analyses from both developed and developing contexts revealed how weak regulation, resource constraints, and cultural attitudes towards risk limit safety engineering contribution to sustainability. At the same time, the study identified opportunities that exist through innovations such as digital safety technologies, safety-by-design in infrastructure, international cooperation, and safety education. The findings highlighted that safety engineering is not merely a technical add-on but a foundational element of sustainable societies. The paper calls for interdisciplinary approaches that embed safety principles into global development strategies, regulatory frameworks, and poverty-reduction programmes. Future research should prioritize comparative analyses of regulatory effectiveness, culturally adapted innovations, and participatory training approaches to bridge existing gaps. By reframing safety engineering as both a technical and socio-economic enabler, this article underscores its transformative potential in advancing the 2030 global sustainable development agenda.

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Sustainable development goals, safety engineering, poverty reduction, occupational health and safety, environmental protection, Occupational Health Theory, Environmental Justice Theory, Environmental Justice Theory.

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Safety Engineering and the SDGs: Bridging Occupational Health, Environmental Protection, and Poverty Reduction

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