THE CONSTRUCTION industry has stepped up its efforts to combat work-related stress and promote good mental health by joining the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Working Minds campaign.

Six new organisations in the construction industry have joined the campaign to help reach trades and offer free support, including the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) which has committed to the campaign.

Other construction organisations supporting Working Minds are: the Contract Flooring Association (CFA) and the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA), the National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC), and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA).

Working Minds helps employers prevent stress and support good mental health. It provides free online learning to show how to make it part of routine working life and culture. The new bitesize tool typically takes no more than an hour to complete and covers what the law requires of employers and what’s needed to do to be compliant.

Users will walk through Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment. They are to:

Reach out and have conversations,
Recognise the signs and causes of stress,
Respond to any risks you’ve identified,
Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken,
and make it Routine.

The Working Minds campaign aims to make it become the norm to talk about stress and how people are feeling and coping on site.

Jo Lear, Executive Assistant to Technical and Training at NFRC, said: “NFRC is proud to continue to support the HSE Working Mind campaign. It’s an excellent resource that provides practical and useful tools to support our members’ mental health.

“NFRC is fully committed to supporting the wellbeing of our members and understands the importance of championing such great initiatives. The HSE Working Minds Campaign is a positive step on a long road to improving the wellbeing and mental health of our roofing workforce.”

The Mental Health Challenges of Roofing

A number of factors have been identified in the UK roofing sector that contribute to challenging the mental health of its workforce. These include a high number of subcontractors in the sector, whose work can be unstable, meaning pay can be unpredictable and uneven throughout the year, causing financial stress.

The demands of work can often mean travelling away from home and so operatives are removed from the support of family and friends. This also often means that roofing operatives work with new teams regularly and so sources of support may not be clear in a new workplace environment. Workplace cultures can additionally make it difficult to speak about mental health.

Liz Goodwill, Head of Work-related Stress and Mental Health Policy at HSE, said: “We know that running a business in construction can be stressful with long hours, juggling intense workloads.

“We are delighted the Working Minds campaign is welcoming even more partners and they will no doubt help us in our efforts to raise awareness of ways employers across Britain’s construction trades can help prevent and reduce work-related stress.

“The law requires all employers – whether you’re a demolition firm or scaffolding business – to carry out a stress risk assessment and act upon the findings. The online learning shares all the tools you need to get started in one place, and you can come back as many times as you like.”

According to Deloitte, the total annual cost of poor mental health has increased by 25% since 2019, costing UK employers up to £56 billion a year.

Help is Available

If you or someone you know needs help or support, reach out and ask how they are feeling and coping. The Working Minds campaign sign-posts employers to a wide range of tools and sources of support that can help on its construction sector webpage.

Employers wishing to know more and complete the Working Minds online learning should register and get started today.

>> Read more about Working Minds in the news

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