If you ask about the top dangers in construction work, you will probably get these answers: falls, electrocutions, someone getting struck, or some other type of accident. However, the highest number of deaths reported among construction workers are caused by suicide. The number of deaths caused by suicide is higher than every other workplace-related fatality combined.
The construction industry has the highest suicide ratio among all industries, and a staggering 80% of construction workers experience work-related stress. The construction industry is one of the largest industries in the world with over 11 million workers in the US alone. Studies reveal that the suicide rate among construction workers is roughly twice as much as compared to the general population. These are all alarming statistics.
Impact of Stress on Construction Workers
Stress is a major contributor to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, fatigue, and various other problems. These mental health illnesses take a serious toll on both the mental and physical well-being of workers. These mental health issues, if not dealt with properly, can lead to major problems like drug addiction, substance abuse, and in the worst cases, suicide.
Stress also results in physical pain in the form of headaches, migraines, and blood pressure hikes. Stress building up over time results in a loss of appetite and sleeplessness, which significantly increases the chance of accidents on construction sites. Stressed workers are unable to focus on work which results in dangerous and fatal accidents.
Major Causes of Stress in Construction Workers
Described below are some of the major stressors for construction workers.
- Intense Workload
Construction workers generally perform hard and physically draining tasks. Their tasks are very tiring in general, but what makes matters worse is if they have an intense workload. Contractors and subcontractors increase the workload of workers in order to meet deadlines. This increased work makes the workers both physically and mentally drained, resulting in stress and injuries.
- Job Security
A major cause of stress for construction workers is insecure jobs. The job market for construction workers is very volatile. Events like the Great Recession and COVID left many workers unemployed. These events made the construction industry infamous for unstable jobs, and this resulted in increased levels of stress among construction workers. The impact of stress caused by job insecurity was widespread, and its effects were seen on everyone from the on-site labor force to heavy equipment traders.
- Material Shortages
Another major contributor of stress for construction workers is material shortages. Material shortages have become a common trend in the construction industry. These shortages result in time being wasted which then causes delays. Customers, however, do not want delays as it increases the costs, so workers are pressured to compensate for the delays by working night shifts and tight schedules. This disturbs the sleep cycles and family time of workers which results in mental health issues and stress.
- Lack of Vacations
As mentioned earlier, construction workers have one of the most physically exhausting jobs. However, the number of vacations they get is below the industry average. Lack of rest and recovery is a cause of stress for these workers.
Methods to Manage Construction Workers’ Stress
A major reason behind the stress prevailing in the construction sector is the lack of acceptance. Surveys revealed that the majority of workers experiencing stress do not accept it or come forward to seek help. One of the biggest reasons for this is the stigma around mental health discussions, specifically in men. Creating a workplace with a reduced stigma around mental health can really help reduce stress.
Another way to reduce stress is by communicating specific job roles to workers. This reduces job-related ambiguity and helps in reducing workers’ stress. Another method of reducing stress is appointing strategies that equally distribute the workload. This ensures that no specific category or group of workers faces high workloads and pressure. This peace of mind results in reduced stress and promotes a healthy work environment.