EDITORS LETTER Construction safety and welfare needs an overhaul

“ The physical and mental wellbeing of construction workers needs far greater attention ”

THE ARRESTING SIGHT OF 454 HARD HATS LINED UP AT THE LEEDS COLLEGE OF BUILDING EXHIBITION , ONE FOR EVERY UK SUICIDE IN THE SECTOR ANNUALLY , WAS A POWERFUL STATEMENT .

As workers return from furlough and the pace of construction picks up after the pandemic , the physical and mental wellbeing of construction workers needs far greater attention .

Heights are a recurring issue , with almost 40 % of annual recorded construction fatalities happening as the result of a fall . Finances are the biggest cause of stress , along with tensions with customers and suppliers , and high workloads .

More leading firms are starting to employ ‘ Mental Health First Aiders ’ which is a step in the right direction , and the inaugural ‘ Building the Future of Workplace Mental Health ’ conference in May had industry experts sharing insights .

But the message is clear : safety and welfare needs improving on and off site .

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Construction Magazine June 2021 | Page 5

EDITORS LETTER Construction safety and welfare needs an overhaul

“ The physical and mental wellbeing of construction workers needs far greater attention ”