Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention recently formed a partnership to address mental health and suicide prevention in the U.S. construction industry.
The partnership aims to improve the mental health of construction workers through effective suicide prevention education, intervention, and postvention strategies, as well as to encourage, equip, and empower mental health champions in the workforce, and introduce collaboration between ABC and AFSP chapters nationwide.
“Safety includes total human health—emotional, social, mental, intellectual, financial, occupational and spiritual wellness—and we must continue to raise the bar for safety for the construction workforce of more than 7.5 million,” said Greg Sizemore, ABC vice president of health, safety, environment, and workforce development, in a news release. “Our people are our greatest asset, and this partnership will take our total human health and safety practices to the next level. Going forward, this is the greatest opportunity to leverage and advance world-class safety for our people, both physically and mentally.”
The partnership will:
· Develop and disseminate education resources on mental health and suicide prevention in workplaces and find and take advantage of opportunities to engage workers.
· Support suicide prevention and postvention education in the construction workplace at all levels of the organizations’ chapters and membership.
· Participate in key events where worker safety and health, as well as safety and health practitioners’ and other professionals’ development are addressed.
· Promote and facilitate the transfer of relevant mental health and suicide prevention and postvention research and findings to practitioners and to the construction workforce.
· Share opportunities with ABC and AFSP chapters on supportive programs and events.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Dec 22, 2021
Updated ASCE 7-22 standard includes first-ever criteria for tornado-resistant design
New document provides up-to-date, coordinated loading provisions for general structural design.
Codes and Standards | Dec 21, 2021
Outdated and redundant building codes plague St. Louis area development
Region’s combined codes nearly double the length of the IRS Code.
Digital Twin | Dec 20, 2021
Groups ally to advance augmented reality and digital twin technology
AREA and Digital Twin Consortium to work on improving how technology components interoperate.
Codes and Standards | Dec 20, 2021
Tension rises in California over state’s push to build more housing
Attorney general hints at lawsuits against cities that don’t comply with zoning reform.
Codes and Standards | Dec 17, 2021
Tension rises in California over state’s push to build more housing
Attorney general hints at lawsuits against cities that don’t comply with zoning reform.
Codes and Standards | Dec 16, 2021
Home builders defeat proposed Oklahoma energy conservation code upgrade
Builders cite high home prices for opposition.
Codes and Standards | Dec 16, 2021
Laws and regulations complicate growth of community solar gardens
New projects stymied by utility resistance and legislative restrictions.
Codes and Standards | Dec 16, 2021
Property owners need systematic approach to GHG emissions reduction
Energy hog buildings at risk for becoming stranded assets.
Codes and Standards | Dec 15, 2021
Design problems now the primary cause of construction claims and disputes
More likely to occur due to more tight timescales imposed upon third parties engaged in design.
Codes and Standards | Dec 13, 2021
ABC releases guide to technology for improving safety performance
Provides details on how to identify, choose, and implement technology.