College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2021
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Jeong Woo, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
The construction industry is known as one of the most demanding industries for employees, both physically and mentally. Due to various factors associated with the working conditions and lifestyles of construction workers, the likelihood of mental health challenges amongst this demographic is quite high. Furthermore, industry culture surrounding masculinity poses a barrier to properly addressing the issue. Because of the dynamic and fast-paced work environment, assessing potential risks to protect workers is an integral part of each day on the job site. As a key component in company success and individual well-being, safety has become ingrained in construction culture. However, some safety concerns are lesser addressed, and this includes mental health. This paper is going to discuss the issue of mental illness for construction workers, its origins, and how the industry can approach it. The proposed solution is two-fold: first, companies can increase knowledge about mental health through educational resources; next, they can restructure industry culture by normalizing the topic of mental health from the top-down within their organizations. Alongside this study, a prototype ToolBox Talk was created to demonstrate how companies can implement this solution by educating their people and bringing awareness to mental health within the industry.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/595
Poster Board