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Safety Engineering and the SDGs: Bridging Occupational Health,
Environmental Protection, and Poverty Reduction
Esang Lazarus Esitikot1*, Mary Ubong Umoh2, Kingsley Ekpo3, Akaninyene Edet Ekong1, Gerald
Ndubuisi Okeke1 and Uchechukwu Johnson4
1Highstone Global University, Texas, USA
2Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment Studies, University of Uyo, Nigeria
3University of Essex, Colchester, England
4Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.1010000034
Received: 25 Sep 2025; Accepted: 01 Oct 2025; Published: 01 November 2025
ABSTRACT
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.
Keywords: Sustainable development goals, safety engineering, poverty reduction, occupational health and
safety, environmental protection, Occupational Health Theory, Environmental Justice Theory, Environmental
Justice Theory.
INTRODUCTION
Hunger has a devastating effect on the global population. As [1] noted, many people do not have access to
enough food to survive while about one in nine people in the world are hungry. Pathetically, the situation has
startling consequences and seems to worsen every passing day. While [2] noted that one child dies of hunger
every ten seconds, [1] noted that one person in the world dies of hunger every four seconds [1] with [3] adding
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN APPLIED SCIENCE (IJRIAS)
ISSN No. 2454-6194 | DOI: 10.51584/IJRIAS |Volume X Issue X October 2025
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that an African child dies every 45 seconds from malarial attack. Imagine a situation where every seven
seconds a child under the age of 10 dies directly or indirectly of hunger somewhere in the world [4].
The poverty level in the world is also of a major concern. For instance, there is an acute hunger crisis for an
unprecedented 345 million people [5]. In Nigeria, for instance, as at 2022, 53.4% of the youths were
unemployed, 63% of the citizens were multi-dimensionally poor, 72% of those in the rural community were
poor while 42% of those in the urban areas were poor [6][7].
Safety is an essential but often overlooked as a tool in the fight against poverty. While policies and
interventions targeting economic growth, education, and healthcare are central to poverty alleviation strategies,
safety-related factors such as environmental hazards and health risks often do not receive as much attention as
they deserve. However, the importance of safety as a fundamental determinant of well-being has been
increasingly recognized in global discussions, particularly in relation to its impact on social stability, economic
productivity, and personal security [8]-[10]. Many researchers have pointed out that the lack of safety
undermines efforts in eliminating poverty, limiting access to resources, disrupting livelihoods, and increasing
vulnerability to exploitation [11][12]. Addressing safety risks is not only a moral imperative but also an
economic necessity, as insecurity stifles investment, hinders education, and exacerbates inequality [8][13].
Thus, there is the need to incorporate safety as a critical tool in poverty reduction strategies, examine how its
absence perpetuates cycles of poverty and undermines broader development goals.
Achieving the above requires approaching development from a sustainable perspective. This involves adopting
developmental strides that maintain, enhance, or improve environmental, social, cultural, and economic
resources; support current and future population in pursuing healthy, productive and happy lives; utilize a
tripartite approach to balance pursuit of economic development with drive to meet human and societal needs
while ensuring environmental protection; ensure that the solutions to today’s needs do not compromise
tomorrow’s environment or the quality of life for future generations. The United Nations Sustainable
development goals (SDGs) laid a 2030 agenda for global sustainable development [14]. It was adopted in 2015
by all United Nations members and succeeded the 8 millennial development goals (MDGs) as a more
comprehensive, global-focused (rather than developing countries-focused) strategy with the aim of "Peace
and prosperity for people and the planet" and the mission of “A shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for
people and the planet, now and into the future” [14].
Viewed broadly as the systematic application of engineering principles, risk assessment, and control strategies
to prevent accidents, ill health, and environmental harm, safety engineering is a central, yet sometimes over-
looked, enabler of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Particularly, safety
engineering plays key roles in meeting the expectation of at least ten out of the 17 SDGs: no poverty (SDG
1), good health and well-being (SDG 3), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy
(SDG 7), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9),
sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), climate
action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15).
Central to safety engineering is the reduction in exposure to hazards, protection of worker and community
health, and improvement in the resilience and reliability of built systems. All these functions link directly to
the core pillars of the SDGs: health, decent work, resilient infrastructure, sustainable cities, climate action, live
below water and on land, and poverty reduction [15][16].
In relation to SDG 3, safety engineers advocate population health outcomes by preventing workplace injuries
and work-related diseases through hazard identification, risk assessments, exposure control, and systemic
redesign [17]. The safety engineers’ pursuit of safer work environments that enhance productivity and prevent
loss from occupational harm, connects directly with SDG 8.
Furthermore, resilient safety engineering practices such as redundancy, fail-safe design, and predictive
maintenance, which safeguard industrial processes and critical infrastructure against failure while fostering
innovation key directly into the expectations of SDG 9 [18]. Similarly, the integration of safety engineering
into building codes, transport systems, and disaster risk reduction strategies as a means of reducing mortality
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and morbidity from urban hazards connects directly into the focus of SDG 11 in achieving sustainable cities
and communities.
The connection between safety engineering and SDG 13 increasingly drives actions to protect the climate.
While climate change introduces new hazards such as extreme weather, heat stress, and novel risks from
emerging energy technologies, safety engineering provides tools to assess and mitigate these risks, ensuring
that climate adaptation and mitigation measures protect both workers and infrastructure [17][20]. Finally,
though not often obvious, safety engineering contributes to the attainment of SDG 1 of no poverty through
prevention of economic shocks and emotional trauma that arise from workplace injury, illness, and disability -
factors that frequently contribute to poverty in many households [16] [20].
The implication is that safety engineering is a cross-cutting enabler of sustainable development. Therefore,
embedding safety principles in industrial policy, urban planning, climate protection strategies, and social
protection frameworks creates co-benefits across health, work, infrastructure, cities, climate, and poverty
alleviation [15][16]. However, safety engineering is often under-explored as a poverty alleviation and
sustainability tool.
Aim of study
The aim of this review is to critically examine the role of safety engineering as a cross-cutting enabler of the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on 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), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 1 (No Poverty). Specifically,
the article aims to show how safety engineering practices do not only enhance occupational health and safety
but also contribute to environmental protection and the reduction of poverty by preventing economic shocks
from work-related injuries, incidents and illnesses. By integrating evidence from research and policy, the
article aims to position safety engineering as a strategic tool for advancing sustainable development and to
propose pathways for embedding safety considerations into national and global development agendas.
METHODOLOGY
This study adopted integrative literature review. The literature reviewed were from peer-reviewed journals,
international organizational reports (International Labour Organization, World Health Organization, United
Nations, World Bank). The literature reviewed were identified through search of different reputable research
databases such as Scopus, institutional repositories, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and general searches of
different internet sites. Boolean operators such AND & OR were used to mesh key terms and their synonyms
to find appropriate literature for the critical review. The key terms and their respective synonyms used for the
literature search included safety engineering, sustainable development goals (SDGs), climate change,
occupational health and safety, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, and innovative technologies.
The inclusion criteria were studies linking safety, sustainability, SDGs, and/or socioeconomic outcomes.
Safety Engineering in the Context of Sustainable Development.
As [15] noted, safety engineering refers to the systematic application of engineering principles, scientific
knowledge, and risk management practices to design, operate, and maintain systems that prevent accidents,
protect human health, and minimize environmental harm. When placed in the context of sustainable
development, safety engineering, beyond the traditional occupational health and safety, also encompasses
environmental stewardship, social protection, and economic resilience (see figure 1), and so aligns with the
multidimensional goals of sustainability [16].
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Figure 1: Interaction between environmental, social, and economic variable
Before the advent of safety engineering, most technological achievements were developed without deep and
long-term consideration for social, economic, and environmental impacts on natural systems. There was less
attention paid to minimizing risk and scale of unplanned or undesirable impacts on natural systems associated
with engineering systems. However, lately, there is a rise in local and global impact of human actions on
natural systems and thus, there is the need for balance between satisfying the needs of the increasing
population and preserving integrity of ecosystems, and maintaining biological and cultural diversity. The
increasing population creates unprecedented demands for energy, food, land, water, transportation, materials,
waste disposal, health care, infrastructure, among others. The implication is the need for engineers to lead the
drive to find the solutions and to integrate hazard prevention, system reliability, and resilience into
development planning and industrial innovation. Safety engineers, therefore, ensure that technological progress
and economic growth are not deployed at the expense of worker well-being, economic variables, ecological
balance, or social equity [17] - see figure 2.
Figure 2: Pillars for achieving sustainability [21]
Therefore, safety engineering serves as a cross-cutting instrument for achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) by integrating occupational health, environmental protection, and poverty reduction [19].
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Theories Of Occupational Health, Environmental Justice, And Human Capital Development.
Several theories have been proposed to explain the concepts of occupational health, environmental justice and
human capital development. Here is a review of some of the theories in the context of safety engineering and
the sustainable development goals.
Occupational Health Theory: This theory focuses on the prevention of workplace injuries, incidents and
illnesses and elimination of hazards as the cornerstone of sustainable economic and social development.
Rooted in the public health model of prevention through primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions,
occupational health theorist posits that occupational safety and health (OSH) are both a human right and an
economic necessity [15]. Viewed from the lens of safety engineering, occupational health theorists justify
engineering interventions such as hazard identification, exposure controls, and safe system design not merely
as technical safeguards but as direct contributors to good health and well-being (SDG 3) and decent work and
economic growth (SDG 8). By viewing occupational health as a key determinant of social equity and
productivity, proponents of occupational health theory reinforce the notion that safe working environments are
essential in achieving sustainable development [17].
Environmental Justice Theory: The proponents of the environmental justice theory declare that environmental
risks, including occupational exposures and industrial hazards, are often unequally distributed,
disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and marginalized workers [9][22][24]-[26]. Aligning with
this theory, safety engineering is not merely a technical discipline but also a mechanism for ensuring equity in
health management and environmental protection [22]. By embedding environmental risk assessments, safe
design, and pollution control into development projects, safety engineering helps operationalize environmental
justice enhancing sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), climate action (SDG 13), and poverty
elimination (SDG 1). By driving environmental justice in ensuring that no group disproportionately bears the
risks of unsafe workplaces or hazardous industries, safety engineers champion the SDGs’ broader mandate of
inclusivity and fairness [19].
Human Capital Development Theory: Proponents of human capital development theory view investments in
health, education, and worker safety as essential drivers of productivity, innovation, and economic growth
[23]. Within this framework, safety engineering provides the instrument to protect workers from preventable
injuries, incidents and illnesses that erode human capital. As [27][28] observed, safe workplaces enhance
workers well-being, reduce absenteeism, and sustain long-term organizational productivity. This has direct
bearing with advancing decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and indirectly reducing poverty (SDG 1).
Furthermore, by safeguarding the health of the workforce and reducing injuries and long-term disability, safety
engineering ensures that investments in human capital are preserved and amplified [16]. This theoretical lens
reinforces the strategic role of safety engineering in enhancing inclusive and sustainable economic
development.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
The conceptual model for this study is the integrative perspective encompassing the occupational health
theory, environmental justice theory and human capital development theory as instruments for improved health
and environment, productivity gains and poverty alleviation. Taken together, these theories showcase the
pivotal role of safety engineering as both a technical and socio-economic enabler of the SDGs. While
occupational health theory highlights the preventive function of safety engineering, environmental justice
theory emphasizes the need for fairness and inclusivity in distributing risks and making risk-related decision,
while the human capital development theory underscores the economic rationale for investing in safety.
Collectively, these theories demonstrate that safety engineering bridges the gap between individual well-being,
environmental sustainability, and poverty reduction, and hence plays a central role in the attainment of
multiple sustainable development goals.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) as a Foundation for Sustainable Development
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) encompasses the policies, practices, engineering controls, and organiz-
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ational systems to prevent work-related injury, illness, and death [29]. Beyond legal compliance and
immediate harm prevention, robust occupational health management systems drive sustainable development
through preservation of human capital, reduction in healthcare and social protection burdens, and enablement
of resilient economic activity [15][17][30][31]. When combined with safety engineering, environmental
management, and social policy, OHS becomes an effective and strategic instrument for advancing multiple
sustainable development goals (SDGs) such as good health (SDG 3), decent work (SDG 8), no poverty (SDG
1), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities (SDG 11), and climate action (SDG
13)[16][20][30][31].
Human capital theorists frame health and safety as investments that preserve workforce productivity and long-
term economic potential [22]. Interventions from occupational health management system such as engineering
controls, process redesign, personal protective equipment (PPE), training, and safety management systems help
in reduction of absenteeism, prevention of disability, and loss of productivity as a result of workplace incidents
[17]. Preventing occupational injury and illness yields direct economic returns through avoided medical,
investigation, legal and insurance costs, preserved business earnings, and indirect returns through maintained
skill-sets and workers experience [15][17]. The implication is that workplace safety safeguards the reservoir of
skills and competencies that organizations need to innovate and grow.
Apart from individual-level benefits, effective occupational health management system is a means to reduce
systemic safety and health-related vulnerabilities. Fewer workplace injuries mean reduced disruption in the
flow of household incomes, less emotional traumas and stronger social protection systems for families thereby
contributing to poverty reduction and social resilience, promoting SDG 1 [16]. OHS also has impacts on public
health. Since workplaces can be sites of disease transmission or prevention, safety practices often have
population-level health benefits [17].
The impacts of occupational health management system vary among developed and developing countries. As
[17] noted, high-income nations have generally experienced long-term declines in recorded occupational
incidents, injuries and fatalities due to a combination of strong regulatory enforcement, technological advances
in safety engineering, and mature OHS institutions. Typical examples include the institutionalization of risk-
based regulation, mandatory safety management systems in high-risk sectors, and widespread adoption of
automation and engineered systems of controls that limit reliability on humans and also remove workers from
hazardous tasks. Such advances do not only reduce immediate harm but also enable more stable employment
and sustained productivity, thereby reinforcing SDG 8 and SDG 3 outcomes [15][19].
In low- and middle-income countries, there are markedly higher occupational risks driven by large informal
sectors, weaker legal frameworks and regulatory capacity, limited access to engineered controls, and resource
constraints for enforcement and workers training [16]. In many of the countries, informal and small-scale
enterprises account for a substantial share of employment though they lack structured occupational health
management systems. The implications, as [20] noted, is more frequent injuries with high health expenditures
and impoverishment. There is, therefore, a strong need for technical interventions, strengthened institutions
and social protection to translate safety gains into poverty reduction [16][17][32].
Bridging the gap between developed and developing countries may not merely require technological transfer.
As [19] recommended, the bridging will require adapting engineering controls to local conditions, combined
with participatory training, incentives for compliance, and enactment of policies that formalize safe systems of
work. Integrated OHS strategies that include affordable engineering solutions, community engagement, and
social protection can reduce the equity gap in occupational risk and strengthen multiple SDGs outcomes
simultaneously. As [31] recommended, adopting a common framework for sustainability and occupational
safety can be a source of significant benefits at local and global levels.
Effective occupational health management system has direct impacts on several sustainable development goals
[30][31]. For instance, with reference to the pursuit of good health and well-being (SDG 3), OHS directly
reduces fatality and morbidity from workplace hazards and contributes to broader population health through
disease prevention and reduced exposures [16][30][31]. Safe workplaces increase labour productivity, reduce
lost work hours and support sustained, inclusive economic participation thereby contributing to decent work
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and economic growth (SDG 8) [15][23][31]. Over the years, safety engineering has been an instrument of
support to build resilient industrial processes and infrastructure reliability thereby reducing failure risk and
enabling innovation that is safe by design, contributing to industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9)
[18][31]. Different urban safety interventions such as building codes, safe transport engineering, and
emergency preparedness help protect urban populations and critical services thereby enhancing sustainable
cities and communities (SDG 11) [19][30]. With climate change that amplifies occupational hazards such as
heat stress and extreme weather impacts, OHS is evolving to manage climate-related risks to workers and
systems thereby contributing to climate action (SDG 13) [16][20]. The linkages between OHS and SDGs show
OHS not as an isolated technical domain but as a systemic enabler of sustainable development outcomes
[31][32].
Safety Engineering and Environmental Protection
Safety engineering serves as a preventive tool against environmental hazards through inclusion of hazard
identification, risk assessment, and system design in industrial processes. Through designs that encompass
redundancy, fail-safe mechanisms, and predictive maintenance, safety engineers reduce the likelihood of
catastrophic failures that may result in industrial accidents, chemical spills, and emissions that threaten
workers lives, surrounding communities, and the environment [16]. Preventive measures included as part of
system designs do not only protect human health but also ensure the continuity and resilience of industrial
operations, thereby directly contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Innovation in
safer technologies and industrial practices reinforces infrastructure reliability and fosters sustainable industrial
growth without adversely impacting the environment [18].
Safety engineering practices extend into transport systems, energy infrastructure, and industrial zoning to
minimize the risks of environmental hazards particularly in urban areas. A typical example is the integration of
chemical storage safety standards, fire and explosion prevention systems, and emergency response protocols
into urban planning to help reduce the impact of accidental releases or emissions on nearby populations [19].
Such practices enhance SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through urban resilience and protects
the public spaces from industrial hazards while ensuring that cities remain safe, inclusive, and sustainable
despite expansive industrial activities.
Safety engineering also plays a pivotal role in addressing the climate-related dimension of environmental
hazards. While industrial revolution is necessary for enhanced quality of life, it is also a source of emissions
that adversely impact the environment and cause environmental degradation and climate change. Safety
engineers, therefore, play key roles in ensuring safety-oriented innovations in cleaner production processes,
emission controls, and energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas outputs and pollution [16] thereby
supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Challenges and Barriers
Despite the critical role of safety engineering in sustainable development, it faces significant challenges that
undermine its contribution to the SDGs. In many developing nations, weak regulatory enforcement limits the
effectiveness of occupational safety and environmental protection standards. Although legislation may exist on
paper, limited inspection capacity, corruption, and lack of political will often mean that industries operate
without consistent compliance oversight [16]. The implication is limited progress towards SDG 3 (Good
Health and Well-being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), as unsafe working conditions
continue to generate preventable injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
Another challenge is incorporating sustainable development principles into organizational policies and
practices [31]. This is particularly obvious in the identification and assessment of occupational risks [31].
The resource constraints experienced by small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) is another challenge
impacting safety engineering. Though SMEs form the backbone of many economies, they often lack the
financial and technical capacity to adopt advanced safety engineering measures [15]. Thus, SMEs may resort
to prioritizing short-term survival over long-term investments in safety systems. This may lead to minimal
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hazard controls, outdated infrastructure, and insufficient worker training which hinder the contributions to
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) [17].
Issues related to cultural and behavioural attitudes towards risk are other challenges faced by safety engineers.
In certain contexts, both workers and employers of labour may normalize hazardous conditions as inevitable,
undervaluing preventive and mitigative measures and formal safe systems of work [19]. Furthermore, poverty-
reduction strategies often fail to integrate safety engineering, leaving vulnerable populations - especially those
in informal or hazardous work - without adequate protection [20]. This oversight perpetuates cycles of poverty
linked to incidents, injuries, illnesses, and financial losses, adversely affecting progress on SDG 1 (No
Poverty) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Sustaining the positive impacts of safety engineering on SDGs requires addressing the various barriers through
stronger regulatory frameworks, targeted support for SMEs, cultural change around risk, and the integration of
safety into poverty-alleviation and climate-adaptation strategies.
Opportunities and Innovations
The rapid advancement of digital technologies creates significant opportunities to advance the contributions of
safety engineering to the SDGs. Tools such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and
predictive analytics enable real-time monitoring of workplaces and environmental hazards, early detection of
hazards, early detection of equipment failures, predictive modeling of risks before they escalate into accidents
and proactive risk management in industries and urban settings [33][34]. By reducing workplace incidents and
industrial accidents, digital safety tools directly contribute to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9
(Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Moreover, the adoption of such technologies supports efficiency and
resilience, ensuring that industrial growths are sustainable while maintaining safe environments.
Another major innovation is the adoption of safety-by-design principles in sustainable infrastructure projects.
This approach embeds safety considerations into the conceptual and planning phases of projects ensuring that
risks are systematically eliminated or minimized through engineering choices such as material selection,
system redundancies, and environmentally safe designs [35]. Safety-by-design does not only reduce
construction and operational hazards but also aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by
promoting safer, resilient urban systems. It further strengthens climate adaptation strategies by ensuring that
infrastructure is robust against hazards exacerbated by climate change, reinforcing links to SDG 13 (Climate
Action). Also, by integrating hazard identification and risk control into the design phase of projects, safety
engineering ensures that new energy systems, transportation networks, and urban developments are built with
resilience and sustainability in mind [36]. This proactive approach helps to reduce long-term costs, minimizes
environmental hazards, and aligns with SDG 13 by reducing emissions and strengthening climate adaptation
capacity, such as designing flood-resilient industrial facilities or renewable energy projects with built-in safety
systems to safeguard communities while advancing green transitions.
There are also opportunities for international cooperation and knowledge transfer to accelerate safety
engineers’ contribution to the SDGs. Collaborative platforms allow developing nations to access global best
practices, advanced technologies, and regulatory frameworks that may not be within their reach due to
financial or institutional limitations [37]. Deployment of international safety standards, cross-border research
collaborations, and capacity-building programmes are options that can help harmonize safety practices
globally to ensure inclusivity in progress towards the SDGs and create a level playing field where workers
everywhere benefit from safe and sustainable practices.
Finally, improved safety training and education serve as another empowerment tool to extend the reach of
safety engineering beyond technical measures. Through training programmes, workers, organizational leaders,
and communities can be equipped with safety knowledge to foster a culture of prevention, accountability, and
resilience [16]. The awareness from the training would empower workers in both formal and informal sectors
to identify hazards, evaluate the associated risks, advocate for safer conditions, and protect their health, thus
advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) alongside occupational health goals. In this
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way, education in safety practices do not only safeguards human capital development but also enhances long-
term productivity, profitability and sustainable development.
CONCLUSION
Engineers played pivotal role in translation and application of science to solve human problems. However,
some of the solutions to existing problems have themselves created new problems. The role of engineers is key
in mitigating or solving these new problems and driving continuous improvements to achieve the sustainable
development goals.
The safety engineers play key roles in balancing social, economic and environmental needs for sustainable
development, improved quality of life and poverty reduction. There is, therefore, the need for a shift in the
traditional engineering approach to revised strategies that consider potential longevity of vital human
ecological support systems, decision making that considers the interconnections and impacts of economic,
social and environmental factors on today and future generations’ quality of life, and reconciling effort to
address human needs with the capacity of the planet to cope with the consequences of human activities.
The implication, therefore, is that safety engineering should not be viewed as a mere technical add-on to
industrial processes but rather as a strategic enabler of sustainable development and a great instrument for
poverty alleviation. Through the safeguard of human health, protection of the environment, and ensuring
resilient infrastructure, safety engineering directly advances several Sustainable Development Goals, such as
health, decent work, sustainable cities, climate action, and poverty reduction. Its preventive role in mitigating
workplace hazards, environmental risks, and industrial disasters underscores its importance as a foundational
element of sustainable societal developments.
Future research should explore how innovations such as digital safety technologies, safety-by-design in
infrastructure, and participatory training models can be adapted across diverse cultural and economic contexts.
Comparative studies between developed and developing nations are particularly needed to understand how
regulatory frameworks, resource constraints, and local cultures influence the effectiveness of safety
engineering in advancing the SDGs. By bridging these knowledge gaps, scholars and practitioners can position
safety engineering as a transformative driver of global sustainability and equitable development.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Moving forward, there is a clear need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate safety engineering with
fields such as public health, environmental science, economics, and social policy to help transit safety into the
broader agenda of global development and ensure that risk prevention and human well-being are embedded
into the core of sustainability planning. Such collaboration is essential for developing inclusive solutions that
address both technical challenges and socio-economic inequalities. Safety engineers should, therefore, opt for a
holistic and balanced view of development that aligns with the pillars for sustainability as depicted in figure 2.
To realize OHS as a foundation for sustainable development, policymakers need to integrate safety
engineering and OHS metrics into national SDGs monitoring frameworks, prioritize social protection for
workers, support technology diffusion that is contextually adapted and accompanied by training, and
strengthen multi-sectoral governance structure that links labour, health, environmental protection, and
infrastructure planning to ensure that OHS investments yield lasting benefits for human capital, economic
resilience, and social equity.
To align the focus on sustainable development across different nations, there is the need to strengthen
regulatory frameworks and enforcement particularly in developing countries. This would require investing in
inspection capacity of regulatory bodies, reducing corruption, and aligning local regulations with international
safety standards to ensure progress towards SDG 3 (Good Health) and SDG 8 (Decent Work).
To enable small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to mitigate barriers hampering alignment of their
practices with the demands of the SDGs, there should be tailored financial and technical support to SMEs to
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overcome resource barriers in implementing safety measures. This may be in the form of subsidies, tax
incentives, or shared safety services that enable smaller firms to adopt innovations such as digital monitoring
tools thereby contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
Policymakers and industry leaders should promote safety-by-design in infrastructure and urban planning by
embedding safety in the conceptual and planning phases of projects to create safer and more resilient cities,
thereby supporting SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Industry professionals, safety engineers and other stakeholders should explore avenues to foster international
cooperation and knowledge transfer. This may entail multilateral institutions and professional associations
collaborative platforms for global knowledge sharing on safety engineering innovations and best practices to
accelerate capacity-building in developing countries and harmonize safety standards across national borders.
Considerations should be given to embedding safety in poverty-reduction strategies, This should include
integrating workplace and environmental safety considerations to protect vulnerable populations from
hazardous working conditions. Such integration will ensure that progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty) does not
come at the expense of health or safety.
Governments, donor agencies, civil society organizations, industries, and academic institutions should expand
access to safety training and education at all levels. They should empower workers, managers, and
communities with safety knowledge to foster a culture of prevention and resilience while strengthening human
capital to meet sustainable development goals.
Safety engineers should not merely aim to achieve the minimum standards. They should comply with existing
legislation, codes and regulatory framework but be proactive and anticipate future legislation which may be
stronger. Where there are no laws, they should explore avenues to apply best practices and standards. They
should drive improvements in existing laws and institution of new laws and codes, where required. They
should alert the relevant authorities if there are deficiencies in existing legislation and potential impacts on
sustainable development and harness the power of professional bodies to align professional practices with
sustainable development goals. They should champion minimizing any adverse impacts on resource
sustainability at engineering design stage and advocate for efficient use of natural resources. In project designs,
they should design to promote re-use, recycling, decommissioning and disposal of components and materials
and collaborate with stakeholders and other professionals to enhance sustainable developments. In all they do,
they should not merely focus on achieving today’s desire but aim for a safer and a more environmentally-
friendly tomorrow.
There is the need to advance research and innovation to continuously drive the deployment of technology as
instruments of sustainable development. Thus, future research should focus on digital technologies such as use
of internet of things, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics for safety monitoring, comparative studies
of regulatory effectiveness across contexts, and participatory approaches that integrate cultural attitudes
towards risk. This will enhance the expansion of the evidence base to link safety engineering with the SDGs.
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