1.5m construction workers in the UK have worked in a dangerous environment whilst suffering from poor mental health, with nearly 700,000 suffering injuries because of it
Business insurer QBE has found that around half of all UK construction workers have worked in dangerous environments whilst suffering with poor mental health.
On behalf of QBE, Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 362 UK construction workers aged 18+ from 24 April to 2 May 2024.
Three quarters of UK construction workers with poor mental health said at some point they continued to work in a dangerous situation despite the increased risk involved.
Key findings from the research include:
- More than one in five (22%), or 682,000 workers report they have suffered an injury at work as a result of poor mental health.
- For those that have continued to work with mental ill health; the majority (76%) say mental ill health increases risk of injury.
- Mental health costs UK construction industry at least £1.2bn per annum with 1.7 days lost per worker and 5.1m lost working days last year.
- More than one quarter (27%) are uncomfortable discussing mental health with their employer.
- One third (32%) of workers said their employer has never once checked in with them about their mental health.
- Absent construction workers are likely to lie about the reason when it is related to mental health and give a different reason for their time off; over a third (38%) of respondents said they told an employer the reason they were absent from work was due to a physical condition, when it was in fact due to poor mental health.
- 36% have been prevented from speaking openly about their mental health due to workplace stigma.
Poor mental health is the single biggest cause of missed workdays in the UK
The research also shows that in the UK construction industry, more than 5.1m working days were lost to poor mental health last year, compared to 18m working days for the whole UK economy. The construction sector is one of the largest in the UK economy – employing 3.1m people or over 9% of the workforce.
According to government reports, stress, depression or anxiety account for almost half (49%) of all work-related ill health. And it is the biggest cause of lost workdays in the UK with work-related ill health accounting for over half (54%) of working days lost.
Openness and acceptance are key
David Dexter, practice leader, Risk Solutions at QBE Europe, said: “Mental health issues are the biggest cause of lost workdays in the UK and a contributing factor in many workplace incidents.
“The UK construction industry is no exception; we are only too aware how mental health can be the hidden driver behind an incident or claim.
“Even a small positive change in an employer’s approach to wellbeing and mental health can substantially address and change workplace pressure points resulting in less stress and fewer accidents and incidents.
“Improving workplace culture by encouraging openness and demystifying stigmas when discussing mental health demonstrates to staff that their health and wellbeing should be a business priority.”
