Helping construction workers manage stress is a safety issue

During a typical workday, construction workers face a variety of risks to their safety and well-being — more than almost any other profession. Working with heavy machinery, heights, handling potentially hazardous materials and working in all kinds of weather are common stressors. Long and irregular working hours and disrupted sleep patterns also contribute to mental and physical exhaustion, exacerbating the personal stresses some workers carry with them to and from the jobsite.

Looking at all industries, one academic study reported that 40% of job turnover is due to stress, and healthcare expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress. The study notes that job stress is the source of more health complaints than financial or family problems.¹ Considering the typical, day-to-day stresses experienced by construction workers, the toll is almost certainly higher.

High stress levels left unaddressed can have a variety of negative impacts – on safety, productivity, mental health, and the potential for substance abuse as workers try to mitigate stress through self-medication.

For employers, taking actions to help workers reduce job stress is not necessarily a complicated process, nor does every stress-related challenge require the intervention of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Here are some simple tips one construction journal suggests might help workers dealing with issues of job stress:²

Share with others or keep a journal

Encourage employees to share with at least one other person what’s going on and how they are feeling. Studies have shown that sharing can help to significantly reduce the stress an individual is feeling alone. Another option is to encourage a worker feeling stressed to record their feelings in a journal. Addressing stress head-on rather than ignoring it or trying to suffer through can be cathartic at work and in life.

Promote exercise

Even though construction jobs are demanding, engaging in regular exercise before and/or after work will reduce levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. Exercise also stimulates the production of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. While employees can be encouraged to exercise on their own, implementing onsite exercise activities such as group stretch training will help release the positive endorphins while helping to reduce fatigue.

Read positive material

In today’s unsettled world, there is more than enough negativity online and in print to stress even the calmest among us. Employees should be encouraged to stay positive by taking time to read material that is uplifting and affirming, which in turn can have a positive impact on mood and stress. Whether faith-based, self-help or just a good book, reading something positive can calm the mind and be a healthy diversion from stress.

Perform acts of kindness

Simple things like complimenting someone on a job well done goes a long way. So is reaching out to a worker who appears to be dealing with stress. Understanding that this is part of the human condition we all experience can help change mindsets and reduce stress.

Ask for help

Workers should feel comfortable and confident enough to ask for help if they are undergoing serious stress. Asking for help can be a difficult admission for hard-working, self-reliant construction workers, so make sure they understand that EAP resources are confidentially available to help provide alternatives and recommendations.

Leaders have a role to play

Project managers and supervisors can also play important roles in identifying workers under stress and helping them find ways to cope.

• Keep lines of communication open – Workers should be encouraged to come forward whenever they feel stressed about work. Together with their managers, workers can find healthy ways to alleviate stress.
• Watch for warning signs – Construction site managers should watch for signs that workers are struggling to stay on track. If they seem especially tired or irritable, they may need help coping with stress.
• Promote employee wellness – Offer workers healthy snacks, time to exercise and other wellness incentives. Consider organizing activities that can help with team-building and stress reduction. Be creative.

Toward a more welcoming workplace

No question that construction is, and almost certainly always will be, physically demanding and potentially dangerous work. That alone can be stressful for even the most experienced workers. But stress can become a workplace hazard on its own if not identified and addressed effectively.

That’s why it’s in the best interests of worker safety, productivity and job satisfaction to take proactive steps to help employees understand and cope with stress, and to provide them with a welcoming, accepting and non-judgmental workplace along with resources and assistance that can make all the difference.

1. “Financial Costs of Job Stress.” University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell). Accessed 29 March 2022.
2. Jablin, Adam. “Five Ways Construction Employees Can Deal With Stress and Anxiety.” Construction Executive. 6 December 2020.