Mental health

Amos Simbo is director of Winway Consultants and founder of the Black Professionals in Construction Network (BPIC) Poor mental health, at times referred to as stress, is something we all deal with on a daily basis within the construction industry. Every day when we arrive on site, we are faced…

Evidence shows the construction industry has a shockingly poor record on mental health. Greg Pitcher examines why this is the case and what can be done about it

“He came home one night, went upstairs and didn’t come back down.” Bill Hill, chief executive of the mental health charity Lighthouse Club,…

The construction industry has made great strides with health and safety, especially around worker safety and preventing physical injuries and deaths. But there are huge improvements that still need to be made in protecting the mental health of workers. “Remember that an employer’s duty under the Health and Safety at…

Lone-working in the construction industry has typically been the preserve of site-based staff, particularly in the infrastructure sector. The pandemic has changed this, however. The government’s call that “everyone who can work from home must do so” has meant many office workers are now working at home on their own,…

Research commissioned by the Electrical Contractors Association has revealed the vast majority its largest members have set up mental health and wellbeing initiatives. The report found that 89 per cent of the 24 largest ECA members by turnover surveyed had trained mental health first aiders. Some 83 per cent of…

The construction industry used to be regarded as a dangerous industry to work in. That is no longer the case. Significant progress has been made in reducing the number of accidents on buildings sites, with health and safety measures introduced many years ago now so commonplace they are taken for…

Last week I happened to catch the first episode of Paul Hollywood Eats Japan, a TV travelogue in which the noted celebrity baker toured Japan to sample such cross-cultural delights as bread sold in tins and a cup-noodle museum. One of the segments showcased a Tokyo restaurant set up for solo…

Coronavirus killed a construction worker two weeks ago. He did not die on an intensive care bed though, with a machine trying to breath for him. And he will not be included in the grim daily COVID-19 fatality statistics. This worker died in his family home. He took his own…

Industry mental health charity Lighthouse Club has launched a crisis appeal as it is set to lose around £700,000 due to the cancellation of fundraising events because of coronavirus. The charity is calling for donations to help keep its 24/7 helpline running and maintain its support services, including access to…

Coronavirus outbreaks on projects are being hidden from onsite staff and safety concerns are being ignored, Construction News can reveal. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, several scared workers said complaints have been brushed off or ignored by management. Operatives on sites, which have not been adhering to two-metre distancing…