Construction work is demanding—both physically and mentally—and the likelihood of injury or disability is higher than other sectors. As an industry, we have done an excellent job at emphasizing and improving site safety so that everyone goes home safe every day. But what about going home healthy?
While formal regulations, planning, and union collective bargaining agreements have helped address many health and safety risks, more holistic health and wellness issues, such as dehydration, weight management, poor air quality, and stress, are less commonly addressed.
New research on wellness in the construction sector highlights interventions that could be effective in addressing these issues.
1. Hydration stations. Dehydration can cause cognitive impairment and acute illness, and is linked with long-term health consequences like kidney stones and bladder cancer. Convenient, visible access to water is often considered the first step in addressing worker dehydration. In fact, many municipal and state laws require construction companies to supply water on their jobsites. Structure Tone’s Boston office not only supplies water to its jobsites, but goes one step further by delivering it from a hard-plumbed water source, which reduces the chance for contamination associated with a standard, five-gallon jug water dispenser system.
2. Access to healthy food. The prevalence of overweight employees within the construction industry is significantly higher than the general adult population. This has obvious health implications, but also business implications. Obesity can increase the risk of workplace disability, as well as decrease work ability and performance. Leading construction companies are addressing this issue head on. Turner Construction, for example, has implemented “wellness trailers” equipped to not only handle immediate medical responses, but also to help address chronic health issues such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes by providing healthy food and educational resources. Similarly, BCCI Construction recognizes the limitations of food storage on jobsites and has started providing food and beverages that are low in sugar and high in protein.
3. Space and tools for mindfulness. Workplace stress is linked to depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Empirical research on mindfulness in the construction sector supports the proposition that it could be beneficial to workers. Lendlease, for example, has recognized the importance of integrating mental health into its culture. Acknowledging that construction employees are more likely to experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, they introduced Wellbeing Leave in 2015, which gives all employees one day every four months to address any health and wellbeing needs. Almost 70% of Lendlease’s employees used their Wellbeing Leave in 2018.
4. Improved air quality. Many construction companies use air quality monitoring and mitigation efforts such as water trucks, wind break installation, and stockpile coverings to manage air quality. Innovative companies, such as Pepper Construction, are going a step above by also addressing air quality within site trailers. Pepper’s trailers include such features as low-VOC/Greenguard Gold-certified acoustical panels and sheetrock, green cleaning supplies, walk-off mats, and operable windows that can provide fresh air.
Wellness in construction: The WELL Building Standard
Wellness features like these on construction sites aren’t just a minor workplace perk but a competitive advantage. Occupational injuries and illnesses cost the global economy over $1.25 trillion, with a disproportionately high rate of recorded accidents in the construction industry. Physically healthier, more mindful employees may be a key component to addressing this issue.
Luckily, construction organizations don’t have to start from scratch. Many of the wellness features outlined in the WELL Building Standard, such as those relating to the mind, nourishment, water, air, and physical activity, can be implemented outside of the typical corporate office on worksites and within construction trailers. Some forward-thinking construction companies like Structure Tone and BCCI have pursued WELL certification for their corporate offices to navigate and institute the associated behavioral changes before migrating those health and wellness opportunities to the jobsites.
BCCI has recently started surveying employees on jobsites to help identify the key impacts and strategize what wellness features to implement. What’s more, the Sustainability Construction Leaders group—sustainability leaders from national construction firms—and the resources behind the wellness building movement are ready to further help the industry integrate healthy workplace practices for construction workers.
About the Authors
Stephanie Timm, PhD, Senior Director, Delos; Whitney Austin Gray, PhD, Senior Vice President, Delos; Kena David, Director of Sustainability, BCCI Construction; Halie Colbourne, Sustainability Associate, BCCI Construction; Jennifer Taranto, Director of Sustainability, Structure Tone
Related Stories
| Jun 18, 2014
Largest Passive House structure in the U.S. to be built in Oregon
Orchards at Orenco, a 57-unit affordable housing complex in Hillsboro, Oregon, is the first of a three-phase, three-building complex.
| Jun 18, 2014
SOM's twisting tower wins design competition for Sweden's tallest skyscraper
The skyscraper, which will reach 230 meters and is named Polstjärnan, or "The Pole Star," is to be built in Gothenburg, Sweden.
| Jun 18, 2014
Study shows walkable urbanism has positive economic impact
Walkable communities have a higher GDP, greater wealth, and higher percentages of college grads, according to a new study by George Washington University.
| Jun 18, 2014
Arup uses 3D printing to fabricate one-of-a-kind structural steel components
The firm's research shows that 3D printing has the potential to reduce costs, cut waste, and slash the carbon footprint of the construction sector.
| Jun 17, 2014
Suffolk names Jeffrey Gouveia as President, Southeast Region
Exec with eight years of Florida experience will head regional team.
| Jun 17, 2014
Must see: If music were architecture in 27 illustrations
From Miles Davis to Björk to Manu Chao to Bach, Babina visualizes how these sounds will look like if they were visible in the form of architecture.
| Jun 17, 2014
Nation's largest Thai Buddhist temple opens near Boston
The $60 million facility built in honor of King Rama IX of Thailand is the largest Thai Buddhist temple outside of Thailand.
| Jun 17, 2014
U.S. Census report examines why Americans move
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 35.9 million people moved between 2012 and 2013, meaning that 11.7% of the U.S. population moved in one year. The report seeks to examine why.
| Jun 17, 2014
World's tallest pair of towers to serve as 'environmental catalyst' for China
The Phoenix Towers are expected to reach 1 km, the same height as Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill's Kingdom Tower, but would set a record for multiple towers in one development.
