‘Be willing to listen’: Experts discuss suicide prevention in construction

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Photo: A-Digit/iStockphoto

Itasca, IL — Smaller construction companies may have an advantage when it comes to helping workers find counseling and mental health services amid the industry’s ongoing suicide crisis.

To Jessica Bunting, director of the Research to Practice initiative at CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, companies with fewer employees are “already ahead of the game” in that regard. Bunting was one of a panel of experts who spoke during a Nov. 9 webinar hosted by the National Safety Council Divisions.

“It’s so much easier to accept help from someone that you already know and trust,” she said. “And so, I think if the leaders of these small companies can find it within themselves to be vulnerable and they’re building a sense of community, that sets them up to really change the whole culture of the company when it comes to both mental health and safety.”

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that construction occupations have the second-highest rate of suicide, ranking behind mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.

Increasing awareness and limiting stigma around the issue is the goal of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, whose executive director, Sonya Bohmann, facilitated the discussion with various members of the CIASP board of trustees.

Nick Robins – an environmental, health and safety official with Lendlease, a multinational construction and real estate company – called on employers to go beyond simply forming strategies for prevention. A good place to start? Acknowledging the issue and keeping an open dialogue about resources available to workers.

“The more you talk about it, the less stigma there is with it,” Robins said. “But to talk about it, you have to start the conversation. Once you start it, it’s hard to stop people. It really is. Because there will be people, the advocates, who will step forward and they’ve been waiting for this. So, start the conversation. Be willing to listen, give the time.”

Justin Azbill, director of national EHS at Milwaukee Tool, said assistance must be proactive rather than reactive. One step toward accomplishing this, he said, is educating employers “to be able to learn how to have conversations” about mental health as well as on “the importance of not diagnosing but understanding ways to get help.”


McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

Preventing Suicide

A purple and teal ribbon with the text "September is National Suicide Prevention Month. osha.gov"

 

As a mental health provider, I have seen firsthand the consequences of not paying attention to mental health, substance use and suicide prevention in workplaces. Unfortunately, workplaces are often overlooked when the reality is that mental health impacts workers’ productivity and performance, as well as the employers’ operations and mission. Employers need to recognize the misconception that pre-existing mental health conditions are not a concern in the workplace. Ignoring the warning signs of an individual’s mental health struggles could potentially escalate to the risk of suicide.

Suicide is a complex and distressing issue that touches all demographics in all industries. While suicide prevention awareness has grown there is more we need to do to address this issue in the workplace. The workplace is a significant part of people’s lives because of the time we spend there and often acts as a catalyst for stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges. Employers should consider mental health as part of their safety and health management system.

Recent studies show a concerning rise in suicide rates among workers, underscoring the urgency of this issue. Recognizing this increase is the necessary first step in taking effective prevention measures. The next step is promoting mental health awareness and eliminating the stigma of seeking help for psychological distress.

To cultivate a supportive environment that champions mental well-being and reduces the risk of suicide, employers can:

  • Implement mental health programs.
  • Provide resources for workers to get help.
  • Foster a culture of openness and understanding around mental health issues.
  • Train managers and staff to recognize the signs of mental distress and potential suicidal ideation.
  • Encourage open dialogue about mental health to destigmatize these issues and help those workers struggling to seek help.

Employer-provided resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health days and access to mental health professionals can offer crucial support for workers in need. By taking these steps, workplaces can not only help prevent suicide but also enhance overall employee well-being and productivity. Raising awareness among employees and providing training on suicide prevention can empower colleagues to identify warning signs and take appropriate actions.

The importance of suicide prevention awareness in the workplace cannot be overstated. By prioritizing mental health support and prevention strategies, we can create healthier, more supportive workplaces that benefit everyone.

Find OSHA resources to help reduce workplace stress and support your workers’ mental health. You can also call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org.


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Original article published by OSHA

Supporting worker mental health: New videos from OSHA

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Photo: U.S. Department of Labor

Washington — Three new videos from OSHA are aimed at helping employers support their workers’ mental health.

Each short video is available with Spanish-language captioning:

“Mental health touches every aspect of our lives, from the way we make decisions, from how we interact with other people, and also our performance,” Joseph Xavier, senior director of safety for Associated Builders and Contractors, says in one of the videos.

Employees who are experiencing mental health issues may show up to work late or impaired, be distracted on the job, and/or isolate themselves from their co-workers. Regularly asking workers how they and their families are doing can build a one-on-one relationship and, in some cases, get to the root cause of workplace incidents.

Along with NIOSH’s Total Worker Health Program, mental health resources such as ABC’s Total Human Health Toolkit can guide employers and assist workers. The toolkit includes a human health assessment tool; resources to engage workers during Suicide Prevention Month (observed each September); and 12 different worker-focused webpages and printable documents that cover active listening tips, how to upgrade a work-from-home routine and understanding depression.

OSHA published the videos during Safe + Sound Week (Aug. 7-13), which emphasized the importance of addressing mental health as part of every workplace safety and health program.


McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

Participate in Safe + Sound Week 2023: August 7-13

Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America’s workers safe. This year Safe + Sound Week will provide resources for businesses on mental health and well-being. These materials will be posted before the start of Safe + Sound Week. Please check back soon!

Safe + Sound Week

Photo: OSHA

Why Participate?
Successful safety and health programs can proactively identify and manage workplace hazards before they cause injury or illness, improving sustainability and the bottom line. Participating in Safe + Sound Week can help get your program started, energize an existing one, or provide a chance to recognize your safety successes.

Who Participates?
All organizations looking for an opportunity to recognize their commitment to safety are welcome to participate. Last year, more than 3,300 businesses helped to raise awareness about workers’ health and safety!

Check out our event archive for information on previous years’ engagement.

Registration is available online.


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Original article published by OSHA

‘Mental Health at Work’: DOL launches PSA

Original article published by Safety+Health
‘Mental Health at Work’: DOL launches PSA
Photo: Department of Labor

Washington — In an effort to promote conversations – and combat stigma – around mental health at work, the Department of Labor has published a public service announcement.

The PSA – part of DOL’s Mental Health at Work initiative – features real-life stories from workers and employers, perspectives from mental health experts, and comments from acting Labor Secretary Julie Su. “We hope it can help start or deepen conversations in your own workplaces,” DOL says.

Workplace leaders “have the ability to make substantive changes,” Mike Weiner, director of EY assist for Ernst & Young’s employee assistance program, says in the PSA. That could involve simply promoting the mental health benefits available to workers.

“We knew that for over three decades that the usage of our proactive mental health benefit that offers our people no-cost counseling sessions … was very low,” Weiner says. “Low usage was actually … similar to other workplaces, and it had been like that for several decades. But since we started our campaign, the usage of our proactive mental health benefit has increased five times. It has sustained it and it began to increase for the first time in 30 years, the very same month that we began our initiative in 2016.”


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

In the works: Training program on psychological safety in construction

Original article published by Safety+Health
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Photo: Missouri Department of Transportation/Flickr

Pullman, WA — A construction worker turned college professor is developing training aimed at strengthening psychological safety in the construction industry.

Hongtao Dang, assistant professor of construction management at Washington State University, will work with construction firms to gather data and information for case studies, according to a university press release. Those studies are expected to aid in the development of student and instructor manuals to be used in training modules.

“Each manual includes a case study that will be based on real work scenarios, with any identifying information about the project or people removed,” the release states. “The scenarios will be focused on inclusion, diversity and equity; professional development and personal growth; mental health and team success; and active care and suicide prevention.

“After being presented with a case study, the workers will have the chance to think about, discuss and share solutions in small groups. The trainer later helps the group understand what might be an optimal solution.”

Dang is using a grant from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industry to fund the development of the program, which builds on his previous work on DEI training for construction safety managers.

“I know what the jobsite culture looks like – how good or bad it can be,” he said. “From that experience, I think it’s important for me to be a catalyst to potentially transform the jobsite culture and to make it more inclusive and safer for people to work there. If we can improve psychological safety on the jobsite, we can improve productivity, safety and project quality. … Every person who works on the jobsite deserves to be safe.”


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Quality conversations can boost happiness and well-being, study shows

Original article published by Safety+Health

Talking with a friend at least once a day – to catch up, lend a listening ear or just joke around – can improve your overall well-being, researchers say.

Their conclusion came after they asked more than 900 people from five different universities to use, for a day, one of seven communication methods: catching up, listening, meaningful talks, joking around, showing care, valuing others and their opinions, and offering sincere compliments. Later in the day, the participants reported on their well-being, connection, stress, anxiety, loneliness and the quality of their day.

The method of connection didn’t matter as much as the act of connecting with a friend, said lead study author Jeffrey Hall, a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas. “One of the take-home messages of this study is that there are many paths toward the same goal.”

Additionally, Hall and his fellow researchers found greater positive effects on happiness and stress when the participants had more than one “quality conversation” a day.

“This means the more that you listened to your friends, the more that you showed care, the more that you took time to value others’ opinions, the better you felt at the end of the day,” Hall said.


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

New AGC Mental Health Video to Share with All Employees

Original article published by  AGC

AGC of America released the fourth video in its series of mental health videos today for member firms to share with all employees. The video features Shayne Dinkle, a Seattle-area safety manager for iron workers, who lost a son to suicide. The pain and anger from that incident brought him close to taking his own life. But the support and compassion he received from his co-workers helped him overcome. The message from the video is clear, it is okay to share your pain, ask for help and offer it to co-workers who are suffering. The video is part of a broader AGC effort to help overcome a construction industry mental health crisis that has resulted in the industry having a suicide rate that is four-times the national average. In addition to the video, AGC has collected a host of resources for member firms and chapters to use as they address the industry’s mental health challenges. You can find those resources here.


McCraren Compliance offers training and programs to support companies in suicide awareness and prevention. Contact us for additional information to help you with this very important workplace safety.

Preventing suicide and overdose in the construction industry: Takeaways from CPWR workshop

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: CPWR

Washington — A new white paper from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training details key takeaways from a two-day workshop on “Combating Suicide and Overdose Fatalities Among Construction Workers.”

The workshop took place Aug. 1-2 in the nation’s capital and was funded by NIOSH.

The white paper outlines training available to help workers, best practices for training effectiveness, and smartphone apps to use and hotlines to call when a worker is in need. The resource also looks at related challenges, such as stigma.

CPWR Executive Director Chris Trahan Cain highlights research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that both male and female workers in construction and extraction jobs “have a higher prevalence of dying by suicide than the average male or female worker.”


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Workplace stress and mental health: OSHA launches webpage

Original article published by Safety+Health

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Photo: osha.gov

Washington — A new webpage published by OSHA is intended to help employers and workers manage workplace stress while maintaining mental health amid a shifting work climate.

According to NIOSH, nearly 1 out of 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. World Health Organization data shows that 83% of U.S. workers experience work-related stress, while 54% find that work stress affects their home life.

“Stress can be harmful to our health and increase mental health challenges” that range from temporary grief and anxiety to clinical mental illness and substance use disorders, OSHA says. “While there are many things in life that induce stress, work can be one of those factors. However, workplaces can also be a key place for resources, solutions and activities designed to improve our mental health and well-being.”

The webpage features training resources, outreach materials and analyses of real-world solutions, as well as other information.

The agency says employers can help workers manage stress by:

  • Being mindful of the unique stressors affecting each employee.
  • Identifying factors that may make it harder for workers to get their jobs done and make adjustments, if possible.
  • Creating a safe and trustworthy work culture by making sure workers know they aren’t alone, their employer understands the stress they’re under, there’s no shame in feeling anxious and asking for help is important.
  • Providing access to supportive services such as coping and resiliency resources, as well as workplace and leave flexibilities without penalty.

“Addressing mental health and stress in the workplace is the right thing to do,” OSHA administrator Doug Parker said in a statement. “Stress is a major determinant of both mental and physical health issues and impacts workplace health and safety.”


McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.