By Matt DiBara — The Contractor Consultants, DiBara Masonry
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the topic of workplace safety has become much more prevalent. Workplace safety has always been a primary focus within the construction industry — so much so that OSHA guidelines are always front and center during the onboarding and training of employees.
According to a recent report, nearly half of the nation’s most dangerous jobs are in construction, making the health and safety of workers a significant consideration for any leader in the industry. To fully consider the comprehensive health and safety of one’s workers, leaders in the industry must look beyond worksite safety. Mental health, safety from illness, and worker protection are other factors that come into play when running a construction company.
How the pandemic shaped safety measures in construction
Pre-pandemic, safety from widespread illness was not a primary concern for construction crews. Like many other workers, illness often meant you popped some cold medicine and kept your sneezes covered, but you still went to work regardless. The pandemic changed perspectives on going to work sick and how to care for oneself when illness does strike.
Construction output fell considerably in 2020 due to the pandemic, and has been rebounding ever since. Due to illness and shutdowns, the construction supply chain issues caused a trickle-down effect, from which the industry is still trying to recover.
During the worst of the pandemic, construction managers had to scramble to make sites safe for workers and keep the industry up and running simultaneously. Now, even though the supply chain has picked up and people are no longer masking up on sites, the health and safety of workers is still a priority.
Managers may have instituted new policies born out of the pandemic concerning employee illness and time off. For example, virtually everyone got into the habit of disinfecting surfaces and practicing standard precautions during the pandemic, and many of those habits have spilled over into post-pandemic life, such as offering hand-washing or hand sanitizing stations and making sure shared surfaces are clean.
Mental health and well-being
Construction workers face many safety concerns on the job site, and recent studies show they may face a higher rate of mental health concerns — not the least of which is the construction industry holding the second highest rate of suicide among workers. Construction work can be high-stress, with long hours and often in harsh weather conditions. The wear and tear on their bodies that many construction workers experience can take its toll. As a result, construction workers are also more likely to use opioids and die of opioid-related overdoses.
It is evident from this statistical evidence that mental health and well-being are approaching a crisis situation for construction workers, and leaders in the industry must focus on awareness and mitigation of these mental health concerns for their employees. There are a number of approaches for awareness and reaching out, and it may take a shift in mindset for an industry known for its tough exterior.
The first step is awareness, both for leaders and their workers. Leaders should know the warning signs of mental health issues or substance abuse concerns, which could include showing up to work late or skipping work, sluggishness, slurring words, decreased productivity, conflict among co-workers, and mood swings. If leaders notice one of their workers is not acting in a manner typical to that person, they should address the issue privately and let the employee know what resources are available to them.
On a larger scale, managers and company leaders must address the stigma surrounding mental health within the construction industry. By talking openly about issues that negatively impact the mental health of construction workers specifically, employees may feel more comfortable coming forward when they are experiencing a mental health concern.
OSHA updates
Construction managers and employees are well-acquainted with OSHA. Their guidelines direct the safety of construction sites, and their oversight has helped keep workers safe since the 1970s.
OSHA periodically updates its regulatory guidelines in accordance with the modern concerns of the construction industry and technological advancements. Some recent OSHA updates include:
- Updates to the record-keeping guidelines for workplace incidents and injuries
- Updates on the supply chain and transport of hazardous chemicals
- Updates to infectious disease standards, on the heels of the pandemic
- Updates on welding safety guidelines
These new updates are not a comprehensive list of all the advancements from OSHA that have recently emerged, but they do show that OSHA is consistently pivoting in keeping with the changing needs of the construction industry.
The impact of technology
Technological innovations have had a significant impact on the health and safety of construction workers, such as wearable exoskeletons that mitigate workplace injuries and ongoing pain — a hallmark of construction work. Additionally, training via virtual reality is making learning complex construction skills safer and more accessible, and sensor technology can sense dangerous situations before they injure someone, such as toxins in the air.
It is the hope of construction technology specialists that continued innovations will lessen the incidents of workplace accidents and work to better the mental health and wellness of construction workers.
Construction work may always hold more danger than the average occupation. However, with more awareness by leaders in the industry and employees, continued oversight by OSHA, and ongoing technological advancements, the construction industry can work toward reducing workplace accidents and bettering the overall well-being of its employees.
About the Author:
Matt DiBara is a 4th generation contractor. He is the owner of DiBara Masonry and CEO of The Contractor Consultants. With his vast knowledge in masonry and other construction-related specialties, he has worked on varying projects.
