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
| Feb 27, 2014
Metal Construction Association introduces two Environmental Product Declarations
Two Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), one for Metal Composite Material Panels and one for Roll Formed Steel Panels for Roofs and Walls, are now available free of charge from the Metal Construction Association (MCA) on its website.
| Feb 27, 2014
Bluebeam Software launches Revu 12 for better field-ready document management and project collaboration
The latest version of the company’s flagship solution better enables users in document-intensive industries to digitally collaborate on project documents and more easily connect the office to the field.
| Feb 27, 2014
PocketCake lunches CPU designed for virtual reality simulations
The company's Virtual Reality Simulation Converter Assembly is three times more powerful than the average high-performance computer and allows for up to eight people to experience a virtual reality simulation at the same time.
| Feb 26, 2014
Adaptive reuse project brings school into historic paper mill
The project features nontraditional classrooms for collaborative learning, an arts and music wing, and a technologically sophisticated global resource center.
| Feb 26, 2014
Startup PocketCake aims to bring virtual reality simulations to the AEC masses
Founded in 2012, the development firm offers custom virtual reality simulations for the price of a typical architectural illustration.
| Feb 26, 2014
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center serving up three-phase expansion
The project includes the construction of two new stadiums and a retractable roof over the existing Arthur Ashe Stadium.
| Feb 24, 2014
First look: UC San Diego opens net-zero biological research lab
The facility is intended to be "the most sustainable laboratory in the world," and incorporates natural ventilation, passive cooling, high-efficiency plumbing, and sustainably harvested wood.
| Feb 21, 2014
Naturally ventilated hospital planned in Singapore
The Ng Teng Fong General Hospital will take advantage of the region's prevailing breezes to cool the spaces.
| Feb 21, 2014
Calatrava ordered to pay millions for 'shortcomings in his work' on conference center project
Famed architect Santiago Calatrava must pay 2.9 million euros due to faulty design work on the Palacio de Congresos project in Oviedo, Spain.
| Feb 19, 2014
Why you should start with a builder, part two
When it’s time to build or expand, the first step is finding a builder that fits your needs. Once you have found a builder, checked their references, visited with their previous clients and are ready to move forward, the next step is answering an initial set of questions that will direct your project.