Supporting the Mental Health of Construction Workers with Welfare Units

The dangers in the construction industry are well-known. From accidents involving heavy machinery to work-related illnesses, working in a construction environment requires the utmost care and attention. Most building and demolition projects follow safety regulations and provide special equipment and attire for the workers’ physical safety, protecting them from harmful elements. However, the mental health of construction workers is a topic that has often been overlooked.

This line of work can lead to high levels of construction worker stress due to many factors. Not only is their work physically demanding, but the potentially hazardous conditions amidst stringent deadlines add to the load. Working in these conditions can give rise to issues related to construction workers’ mental health, such as anxiety, depression and burnout if worker well-being is left unaddressed.

There’s a pressing need to create awareness on the topic of construction workers’ mental health. Hireforce Welfare works closely with the building and demolition industry, understanding the importance of mental health awareness. In this blog, we unpack why the mental health of construction workers is important and how our welfare units can support your workers.

Mental Health in the Construction Industry Statistics

The recent statistics on the extent of mental health issues in the construction industry raise significant concerns. The Office for National Statistics covering England and Wales states that construction workers are nearly four times more likely to take their own lives than workers in other sectors. A May 2020 study by the Chartered Institute of Building states a whopping 91% of construction workers in the UK have felt overwhelmed, with 26% having experienced suicidal thoughts. Nearly 48% of the UK’s construction workers took a break due to unmanageable stress.

These statistics about mental health in the construction industry are alarming, serving as a reminder of why the issue of mental health has reached its boiling point. Mental Health Day is coming up on October 10, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health in all industries, including the construction sector.

Why Is the Mental Health of Construction Workers Important?

Mental health awareness in the construction sector isn’t just for individual well-being but also has an effect on productivity, site safety, and team dynamics. Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and burnout can lead to low concentration levels, compromise decision-making skills, and increase the occurrence of accidents in an already dangerous working environment.

Supporting the mental health of construction workers is necessary to create safer working environments and foster better overall worker well-being. On-site facilities such as site welfare units are one of many worker welfare initiatives that must be implemented before a project commences.

How the HSE and Site Welfare Facilities Support Construction Workers' Mental Health

Building awareness of the growing plight of mental health conditions has pushed the industry to take appropriate steps in favour of facilitating good mental health and combating construction worker stress. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has stepped up its efforts through legislation for welfare facilities on-site and the Working Minds campaign. It guides users to take a quick risk assessment by following five simple steps:

• Reach out and have conversations
• Recognise the signs and causes of stress
• Respond to any identified risks
• Reflect on actions agreed and taken
• Make it Routine

This campaign is aimed at employers in the building and demolition sector to prevent stress and support the good mental health of their employees.

The Role of Towable Welfare Units in Mental Health

Open Access to Vital Facilities

Workers feel safe and secure knowing they can look forward to a comfortable space on-site. Our welfare units offer unhindered access to essential facilities like running water, clean and hygienic toilets, a kitchen, a break room to have meals in and more. Lower the physical and mental stress of your site workers from demanding work schedules and tight deadlines through our range of towable site welfare units.

Designated Space to Destress

The pressure and demanding nature of the construction work environment can begin affecting the performance of your workers. Unclean working conditions coupled with unforeseen project changes can increase construction workers’ stress levels. Tight deadlines and intense workloads leave no time for overstretched workers to release any pent-up frustration. 

Workers need a place away from the stressors to relax and regroup. Hireforce Welfare’s Ecosmart site welfare units come in multiple variants to accommodate construction site workforces. Our 10-person and 16-person variants also have a 3-person room to facilitate one-on-one interactions and meetings.

In addition to these measures, you can implement regular mental health training and create peer support networks to support your construction workers' mental health needs.

Use Hireforce Welfare’s Welfare Units to Support Your Workers’ Mental Health Needs

Acting on measures to regulate the mental health of construction workers is a continuous process and not a one-time activity. Just as building companies work hard to ensure that physical safety requirements at the construction site are met, there needs to be equal, if not more, emphasis on the workers’ mental health needs.

Towable welfare units are a vital strategic measure for workers’ physical and mental health and should be implemented before your project begins. Our years of experience have given us an expert understanding of construction worker welfare needs that are second to none. We offer high-quality 6 to 16-person portable welfare units with quality amenities.