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 11, 2011
Green design, white snow at Egyptian desert retail complex
The Mall of Egypt will be a 135,000-sm retail and entertainment complex in Cairo’s modern 6th of October district. The two-story center is divided into three themed zones—The City, which is arranged as a series of streets lined with retail and public spaces; The Desert Valley, which contains upscale department stores, international retailers, and a central courtyard for music and other cultural events; and The Crystal, which will include leisure and entertainment venues, including a cinema and indoor snow park. RTKL is designing the massive complex to LEED Silver standards.
| Feb 10, 2011
7 Things to Know About Impact Glazing and Fire-rated Glass
Back-to-basics answers to seven common questions about impact glazing and fire-rated glass.
| Feb 10, 2011
Medical Data Center Sets High Bar for BIM Design Team
The construction of a new data center becomes a test case for BIM’s ability to enhance project delivery across an entire medical campus.
| Feb 10, 2011
Zero Energy Buildings: When Do They Pay Off in a Hot and Humid Climate?
There’s lots of talk about zero energy as the next big milestone in green building. Realistically, how close are we to this ambitious goal? At this point, the strategies required to get to zero energy are relatively expensive. Only a few buildings, most of them 6,000 sf or less, mostly located in California and similar moderate climates, have hit the mark. What about larger buildings, commercial buildings, more problematic climates? Given the constraints of current technology and the comfort demands of building users, is zero energy a worthwhile investment for buildings in, for example, a warm, humid climate?
| Feb 9, 2011
Hospital Construction in the Age of Obamacare
The recession has hurt even the usually vibrant healthcare segment. Nearly three out of four hospital systems have put the brakes on capital projects. We asked five capital expenditure insiders for their advice on how Building Teams can still succeed in this highly competitive sector.
| Feb 9, 2011
Businesses make bigger, bolder sustainability commitments
In 2010, U.S. corporations continued to enhance their sustainable business efforts by making bigger, bolder, longer-term sustainability commitments. GreenBiz issued its 4th annual State of Green Business report, a free downloadable report that measures the progress of U.S. business and the economy from an environmental perspective, and highlights key trends in corporate culture in regard to the environment.
| Feb 9, 2011
Kingspan Insulated Panels Announces Path to NetZero Mobile App
Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, a global manufacturer of insulated metal panels, announces the availability of its new Path to NetZero mobile app. Introduced at Greenbuild 2010, this unique tool for the building industry simulates the process of achieving high-performance and net-zero buildings.
| Feb 7, 2011
GSA Unveils New Sustainable Workplace Design Tool
The U.S. General Services Administration launched its Sustainable Facilities Tool on Monday, Feb. 7. The innovative online tool will make it easier for both government and private-sector property managers and developers to learn about and evaluate strategies to make workplaces more sustainable, helping to build and create jobs in America’s clean energy economy of the future.
| Feb 4, 2011
President Obama: 20% improvement in energy efficiency will save $40 billion
President Obama’s Better Buildings Initiative, announced February 3, 2011, aims to achieve a 20% improvement in energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 2020, improvements that will save American businesses $40 billion a year.
| Jan 31, 2011
Cuningham Group Architecture launches Healthcare studio with Lee Brennan
International design firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group) has announced the arrival of Lee Brennan, AIA, as Principal and Leader of its new Healthcare studio. Brennan comes to Cuningham Group with over 30 years of professional experience, 22 of those years in healthcare, encompassing all aspects of project delivery, from strategic planning and programming through design and construction. The firm’s new Healthcare studio will enhance Cuningham Group’s expertise in leisure and entertainment, education, mixed-use/housing and workplace environments.