MENTAL HEALTH Archives

Health in the construction industry is often overlooked, but it has a huge impact on workers and businesses. Physical and mental health issues are among the biggest reasons for time off work and rising workers’ compensation costs across Australia. Ignoring health risks doesn’t just harm individuals, it affects productivity, deadlines, team morale, and a company’s bottom line.

Physical Health Risks

The most common health issue in construction is musculoskeletal injury (MSI), caused by body stressing. These injuries account for over half of lost-time claims in many states, and around 33% of all serious claims nationally. They often result from:

Heavy lifting or carrying awkward loads
Repetitive movements
Awkward body postures
Using vibrating tools over long periods
Working without the right equipment or help

Examples of injuries include sprains, strains, bruising, and ongoing pain in the back, shoulders, neck, wrists, or knees. These can happen suddenly (like a pulled muscle) or develop slowly over time.

How to Reduce Physical Health Risks:

Pre-plan tasks – break jobs into safer steps.
Use the right equipment – mechanical aids, trolleys, or different tools.
Rotate tasks – share heavy or repetitive work to avoid overuse injuries.
Warm up and stretch – treat the body like an athlete would.
Encourage early reporting – pain or discomfort should be logged before it becomes serious.
Check site layout – poor design can lead to awkward lifting and unnecessary strain.

Health Monitoring

Construction workers are regularly exposed to hazards that may not cause immediate harm but can create long-term damage. These include, but not limited to:

Dust and fibres (i.e.silica, asbestos etc.)
Hazardous chemicals
Loud noise
Vibration

What to Do:

Conduct regular health checks (hearing, lung function, vision) if workers are exposed to risks.
Provide PPE (masks, ear protection, gloves) and check they’re used and fitted properly.
Keep exposure levels within safe limits by improving ventilation, reducing noise, or rotating tasks.

Mental Health Risks

Psychological risks (psychosocial hazards) can be just as dangerous. Construction workers are almost twice as likely to die by suicide compared to other employed men, and young workers in other industries. Common risks include:

Long hours and time pressure
Bullying, harassment, or aggression
Lack of support or recognition
Unclear job roles
Remote or isolated work

How to Improve Mental Health on Site:

Talk openly – hold toolbox talks about stress and wellbeing.
Promote a supportive culture – celebrate wins, recognise hard work, and encourage teamwork.
Zero tolerance – commit to no bullying, violence, or harassment.
Improve role clarity – make sure everyone knows what’s expected of them.
Encourage balance – promote rest breaks and fair hours.
Support access to help – provide workers with information about support services and encourage speaking up early.

To learn more, we’ve developed a great resource on How to build a mentally healthy work site which provides useful tips.

The Hidden Costs to Business

When a worker is injured or unwell, costs quickly add up. Projects face delays, skills are lost on site, replacement workers may be needed, and insurance costs rise. Poor health also affects morale, making it harder to keep skilled staff.

Actionable Steps for Businesses

To keep your site healthier and safer, try:

Regular Reviews: Use the HazardCo App for site reviews to spot hazards early.
Clear Communication: Share site rules, expectations, and updates with all workers.
Consultation: Ask workers about risks and listen to feedback.
Incident Reporting: Log every injury, illness, and near miss in the HazardCo App to build a record and identify patterns.
Toolbox Talks: Use recent incidents or health risks as discussion points.
Health Monitoring: Arrange checks for high-risk exposures (i.e. noise, dust, chemicals).
Emergency Planning: Make sure everyone knows what to do if something serious happens.

Physical and mental health are just as important as safety when it comes to protecting workers. By planning ahead, encouraging open reporting, and supporting wellbeing, businesses can prevent injuries, reduce downtime, and build stronger, safer worksites.

If you have any further questions in regards to this topic or need more support, reach out to HazardCo and speak to one of our expert Health and Safety Advisors. You can contact us on 1800 954 702.

* Safe Work Australia reporting period of 2022 – 2023.

How to reduce psychosocial hazards on your work site

The workplace hazards that create risks of harm to psychological (mental) health are known as psychosocial hazards. These hazards, when excessive or prolonged, can cause serious harm. It can have a significant impact on workers, their families and business.

Construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than an accident at work. Every year 190 Australians working in the construction industry take their own lives; this means we lose a construction worker every second day to suicide. Young construction workers are two times more likely to take their own lives than other young workers.

Psychosocial hazards can come from:

Work relationships and interactions, including bullying, harassment, discrimination, aggression and violence.
The way the work or job is designed, organised and managed.
The equipment, working environment or requirements to undertake duties.

What are some of the work related factors that affect a mentally healthy work site?

Work-related violence and aggression
Workplace bullying
Poor support
Lack of recognition and reward
Low role clarity
Remote and isolated work

Whose responsibility is it to manage psychosocial hazards?

Workplaces have a legal responsibly to manage risks to mental health and well-being like they do any other health and safety risk.

Knowing where to start can feel overwhelming but getting started doesn’t have to be. Take action to improve the mental health of your team today.

Tips to help build a mentally healthy work site

Create a more positive and supportive work site

Develop an action plan in consultation with your workers about what you can do together.
Check in on your workers regularly. Start a genuine conversation. Ask your worker how they are going, and listen.
Encourage respectful behaviour and communication.
Walk the talk and lead by example. Supervisors demonstrate their commitment by being supportive and positive on site.
Show your commitment by supporting mental health organisations and getting involved in awareness events.
Reinforce the good behaviours regularly and address bad behaviours as they appear.
Commit to zero tolerance for bullying, discrimination and violence/aggression.
Encourage and support employees to bring up concerns when they notice unacceptable behaviours.

Establish awareness and support for workers experiencing mental health issues

Consistently raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing by having discussions such as 1:1 chats and toolbox talks.
Share information with your workers on mental health and how to seek help to help break the stigma. Posters, emails, and discussions can all be used.
Encourage staff with mental health conditions to seek treatment and support early.
Support staff with mental health conditions to stay at or return to work.

Celebrate workers and their efforts

Praise employees and give regular positive feedback for good work.
Celebrate team success. A morning tea / BBQ is also great for team bonding.

Take steps to improve role clarity and job satisfaction

Monitor and manage workloads regularly and increase input in how workers do their work.
Have ongoing and regular conversations with employees about their performance and behaviour.
Make sure your employees are clear about their roles. Position description, regular 1:1 catch ups and reviews.
Offer opportunities for learning, problem-solving and personal development.
Support learning – provide opportunities for workers to learn and sharpen their skills, and set interesting challenges.

If you have challenges on your work site related to psychosocial hazards, give us a call for advice. As a HazardCo member you can have a chat with the experienced health and safety Advisory Team for no extra cost.

It’s no secret being a tradie is a very physically and mentally demanding job, with long workdays and weeks placing the body under intense physical and mental strain.

Worker fatigue is one of the biggest hazards on-site. Fatigue can come in many different forms and be caused by a number of different factors. While fatigue may not be avoidable in today’s busy cycle, it is important we recognise the signs of fatigue and the steps we can take to reduce it.

Because at the end of the day, a tired worker is a dangerous worker.

Responsibilities for managing fatigue

When you are fatigued, you are less alert and aware of your environment; this can lead to an increased risk of errors, resulting in injuries or incidents on-site.

When working on-site, it is both the Employers and the Worker’s responsibility to recognise and reduce worker fatigue.

Employers

As an employer on-site you are required to provide a safe working environment, and that includes reducing fatigue. Here are a few strategies for ensuring everyone stays fresh:

Working schedules – Make sure your team isn’t working too many days in a row or too many long shifts, get your team to take regular breaks and schedule tasks throughout the day to maximise peak energy periods.
Sleep – design rosters or workweeks in a way that doesn’t negatively impact normal sleep patterns too much
Ask questions –be sure to check in with your team, how they are feeling may be impacting their energy levels at work
Avoid extreme conditions – working in extreme heat or cold weather is extremely draining. Limit prolonged exposure to these conditions if possible
Understand your team – everyone in your team or on-site is different. Make sure workloads and requests are manageable and within skill and experience levels
Develop a fatigue policy and plan – this will formalise everyone’s role in reducing fatigue on-site. This should clearly outline all of the above points.

Workers

Everyone is personally responsible for turning up every day in the best mental and physical conditions possible so that what you do on-site doesn’t affect the health and safety of others. Here are some tips:

Put yourselves in a position to get the most sleep and recovery as possible between shifts and workweeks
Inform the boss or Principal Contractor if their circumstances change or if there is anything affecting your energy levels which may impact your ability to work
Know and listen to your body, and take action when it’s saying “I’m tired!”
Report fatigue-related incidents, whether it’s you personally or someone else, report all incidents or near misses on-site

Practical steps for managing fatigue seasonally

Our bodies operate differently during the cooler and warmer months. During winter, fatigue levels tend to increase. With the colder temperatures, longer nights and reduced sunlight, our bodies naturally tend to shut down earlier in the day. During summer, we benefit a lot from longer days and more sunlight, however we need to consider fatigue due to hot weather and maintaining our hydration levels.

Here are a few steps you can take.

Enjoy the sun and get outdoors as much as possible during your day
Prioritise good sleep. Everyone needs somewhere between 6-9 hours of sleep a night. Getting good quality uninterrupted sleep will help recharge the batteries and fight off the winter drowsiness
Exercise regularly. Regular exercise will help keep you energised and can actually help you sleep
Relax, don’t stress
Eat well and fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to recover and sustain itself
Keep yourself hydrated during the warmer months
Seek shade where possible

Fatigue is something that we all face in our busy work lives and it is often unavoidable.

However, it is critical we can recognise the signs of fatigue in ourselves or someone on-site and take the necessary steps to prevent fatigue-related problems from happening.

Taking care of your mental health can be difficult, as sometimes you don’t even know you are struggling until you are in the thick of it. Even though we all respond to mental health differently, there are some common signs to look out for. There are also some recommended things we can do to improve or manage our mental health.

Here are some common signs that you may be struggling with your mental health:

Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
Feeling sad or down.
Not enjoying things you usually would
Changes in eating habits
Feeling anxious or worried constantly
Mood swings
Excessive drinking, taking drugs, or violence

These feelings and behaviours can be onset by a variety of life events or stressors such as; work-related stress, dealing with Covid-19 restrictions, financial concerns, relationship troubles, and many more. If we have been through a tough time or are aware that we aren’t feeling quite right there are some tools we can use that can improve our mental health. Using these tools to proactively manage our mental health is a great idea but it is also useful if you are currently struggling with your mental health.

Here are some common things people do to manage their mental health:

Connect with people – Family, Friends, Workmates, Team Mates
Be Active – Go for a walk or to the gym. Get out in nature
Prioritise Sleep – Sleep has a big impact on mental health
Talk to people you trust – Sharing the good and bad in life helps build a trusted community and support group around you.
Take a break – Schedule in time to rest, recover or energise yourself. Find what helps make you feel like yourself.
Eat well – A healthy diet and staying hydrated can help mental wellbeing

These tools and many more can all help you take care of your mental health. If you notice a colleague or friend is struggling or going through some tough life events, reach out to them and see how they are going. They could benefit from some of these tools or at very least a friend. Remember that taking care of yourself mentally is hard and you don’t need to do it on your own. Reach out to your family and friends or a doctor to talk about your mental health. If you are struggling there is help out there, below is a list of some places you can call if you need support.

Lifeline – 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467

Did you know that one in six Australians is currently experiencing depression, anxiety or both? The construction industry employs more than 625,000 people across Australia, making it one of the biggest employers in the country, this means that there is a good chance that you or someone you work with is struggling with or at some stage has struggled with their mental wellbeing.

There are some pretty shocking stats that show how mental health and wellbeing affects Aussies:

1 in 4 Australians are lonely and have no-one to speak to
Workers in the construction industry are six times more likely to die by suicide than through workplace accidents
It’s estimated that 45 percent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime
In any one year, around 1 million Australian adults have depression, and over 2 million have anxiety

We are increasingly more aware that mental health and wellbeing is a serious issue that affects so many of us. When people are struggling with their mental health and going through a rough time it can be hard for them to seek help or talk about it. We can look out for our friends and colleagues because we know there is a good chance that at least one of them may need someone to talk to.

Poor mental health and well-being come in many shapes and sizes but there are some common signs to look out for. It typically looks like a change in behavior rather than a one-off incident or if they are just ‘having a bad day’. If you see any of these signs or changes in behaviour it might be time to reach out to your friend or workmate:

A talkative or sociable person pulling away or isolating themselves
Normally relaxed or easy going but now are agitated or aggressive
Coming in to work late or not at all
Finding it hard to cope with day to day things
Finding it hard to concentrate or finish tasks
Using alcohol and/or drugs to cope

If you see these signs, your friend or workmate might need a helping hand. They might need you to check in on them and see how things are going. This can be hard and scary if you don’t know what you are doing when dealing with mental health and wellbeing. Reaching out to someone who is struggling can be the first step towards getting them the help that they need. You don’t have to be an expert, you just have to be a friend.

Fortunately for us in Australia, there are so many organisations that exist solely to help people with their mental health and well-being. If you see someone struggling, encourage them to get in touch with one of these organisations for more help. If you need more guidance in dealing with the situation you can call too. Here is some of the places (there are more) you can contact if you or a friend are struggling with mental health:

Lifeline – 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467

For more resources on how to check in on a workmate download the free guide from RUOK? Here

The year’s end has snuck up on us once again, bringing the added pressure of work deadlines, projects, social events, and family commitments.

With these additional pressures occupying our headspace over the festive season, injury rates and incidents tend to increase. The team at HazardCo have a few tips on ways to manage your stress, energy levels, and overall wellbeing at this busy time.

Deadlines – short deadlines for projects and pressure to reach end-of-year-goals can add additional stress to the holidays and cause health and wellness to fall by the wayside. As always, communicate early on, and involve everyone in the project timeline and any dependencies… that way time pressures become a shared problem. And if you do have a looming deadline you don’t think you can make, now’s the time to start talking about it and looking at options with your wider team and client.

Temporary Workers – great for covering annual leave and busy periods, these staff members are often at a higher risk as they don’t have the experience or knowledge of processes specific to your workplace. If you engage temporary workers to cover annual leave or busy periods, it is important that they are inducted correctly, and receive full and correct safety instructions and supervision for any work with machinery or unfamiliar tasks they may be doing.

Social Events – whether it’s purely a social catch-up, or an end of year work party, remember to drink responsibly; monitor and manage alcohol provided to staff, and never drink and drive. This way everyone can have a safe and enjoyable time celebrating their achievements throughout the year.

So, whether you are actively working, or in the midst of the holiday season, try to stay focused on the job at hand, and pay close attention to the task you are performing.

The HazardCo team wishes you all the best for a safe and happy holiday season and look forward to catching up in 2022!