An analysis of the most pressing concerns based on insights from 1,000 UK business leaders.
Author: Tracy Keep
Over 700 construction workers die by suicide per year in the UK — equivalent to two construction workers every working day1.
Mental health issues not only compromise an individual's wellbeing but also adversely affect productivity and safety. Employees grappling with mental health challenges may find it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, or may experience fatigue, all of which can result in errors or safety risks. It is crucial to recognise that mental health issues can impact anyone, regardless of their profession or industry. However, the specific stressors encountered by construction workers can make them especially susceptible to mental health challenges.
What are the key mental health challenges?
Among the contributing factors for manual workers in construction are intense workloads, tight deadlines, money worries and working in isolation, as well as physical factors such as noise levels, inadequate temperature control and uncertainty of working location.
A large proportion of construction workers are self-employed and paid by the amount of work they produce, e.g. bricks laid for a bricklayer or work per square metre for a plasterer. This can bring uncertainty due to the underlying worry of not having enough work each month, burnout from taking on too much to compensate for the leaner times and delays out of their control such as disruption due to bad weather or delays in the delivery of materials.
Another key consideration is the culture in the construction industry, which still has some catching up to do compared to other industries in reducing the social stigma around mental health. In an industry where the banter can build camaraderie, it can also create a culture of ‘toxic masculinity’, where workers—particularly males—are less likely to seek help and vocalise their struggles. This expectation to ‘soldier on’ can compound mental health problems further.
What should employers be doing?
Given these alarming statistics and the external pressures facing the construction sector today, it is imperative for employers to ensure their firm’s health and safety culture includes a greater focus on emotional as well as physical wellbeing.
With employee retention now one of the construction industry’s key risks, firms should waste no time addressing the issue, not just for the promotion of good mental health for their workers, but for the good of the business. This includes identifying the factors contributing to poor mental health, implementing adequate support initiatives and working to create a positive shift in workplace culture.
It is worth noting, also, that a company could be liable where they have failed to do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent injury to workers, whether that be physical or mental injury. Some measure of consideration of mental health issues arising from the workplace should be undertaken to ensure ongoing coverage under business liability insurance policies. As such, construction firms would be well-advised to ensure a trained mental-health first-aider is present at every site where they have a presence, as well as introducing an employee assistance programme if such a service is not already in place.
How Gallagher can help
Gallagher is a champion of good mental health in the workplace, and we can advise you further on how to manage the risks to your employees and your business arising from mental ill-health. We also provide a range of consultancy services, including employee healthcare and protection, employee benefits and culture change.
If you would like to speak to a specialist about the issues raised in this article and how insurance and prudent risk management can respond, please get in touch.
