Group suggests mental health strategies to enhance safety in workplace
17 January 2025 |
4:33 am
A Reward and Employee Benefits Association (REBA), in collaboration with Wellhub, has proffered some mental health strategies aimed at enhancing the safety of line workers.
A Reward and Employee Benefits Association (REBA), in collaboration with Wellhub, has proffered some mental health strategies aimed at enhancing the safety of line workers.
The group said that a robust wellness programme can support resilience and safety and line workers’ productivity. Stating that the benefits of providing wellness support for line workers go beyond reducing burnout, it maintained that a strong wellness programme could create a more resilient, safer, and more productive team, helping workers feel valued and supported.
The group argued that while physical well-being is often associated with construction and labour jobs, the mental aspect has long been overlooked. According to it, line workers are the backbone of the construction industry, keeping projects moving with their essential, often physically demanding, work.
These roles, it said, come with unique mental challenges – frequent rotations, seasonal employment, and high-stress environments that expose workers to potential injuries and other health risks.
Despite the growing conversation around workplace wellbeing, it said much of the focus has been on white-collar office environments, leaving the mental health needs of blue-collar workers largely unaddressed.
The group stressed that most construction workers have reported working in dangerous conditions while struggling with poor mental health.Addressing these challenges, it stressed could make a meaningful difference in the lives of labour workers and contribute to a more resilient and efficient workforce.
Defining burnout as a state of physical and emotional exhaustion, often accompanied by feelings of reduced accomplishment and detachment, it lamented that in construction, burnout is intensified by the unique demands of the work.
According to the group, the physical exhaustion from long hours and the mental strain from high-pressure projects create a challenging environment for construction workers often leading to high turnover and growing absenteeism.
Citing some recent research, which sheds light on the extent of burnout among construction workers, it said 13 per cent of workers have experienced burnout, while six per cent suffer from depression.
It said 18 per cent struggle with sleep quality, impacting their overall health and concentration, while 44 per cent feel fatigued at least once a week.
The research demonstrates the mental challengelabour workers face at some point in their careers. The signs manifest in various ways such as decreased work performance, isolation, disrupted sleep and appetite, irritability, weakened immune system, low moods, and, at times, heightened cynicism.
Addressing burnout, the group stressed, was essential, not only for individual health but for maintaining a safe and effective work environment. It said by prioritising and normalising mental health support, businesses could foster an environment where workers feel safe seeking help without fear of judgment.
However, it said when companies avoid addressing mental health, it often leads to higher costs in the long run, including higher turnover rates, lost productivity, and increased absenteeism.
It added that a proactive approach to mental health, through a well-structured well-being programme, addresses stigma and could curb unwanted outcomes.
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