Mental health

Technology is changing. And so is Construction News. Our editorial team has been using artificial intelligence (AI) behind the scenes for some time now to summarise long reports and data as part of our research process, as well as produce some illustrations. But we have not used it to produce…

An industry-specific training programme has been launched to support neurodiverse people working in construction firms. A partnership led by the National Federation of Builders (NFB) has developed two online modules designed to build knowledge and skills around neurodiversity in the workplace. The Neurodiversity in Construction Training Programme was created in…

Plant hire firms are facing a triple threat of tax pressures, road regulations and mental health concerns, an industry trade body leader has told Construction News. Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) chief executive Steven Mulholland reiterated opposition to changes in inheritance tax thresholds announced by the government in its October budget.  …

Key industry bodies have urged the construction industry to grasp opportunities to become more inclusive and keep people in work longer. Following prime minister Keir Starmer’s launch of reforms to support people back into work, sector bodies urged companies to take advantage of initiatives to attract and hold on to…

Eleanor Eaton is managing director at health and safety consultancy CQMS Ltd As the construction industry faces ever-growing demands and pressures, the mental health of its workers is a rising concern. Health and safety procedures – typically focused on preventing physical injury – are critically linked to safeguarding the mental…

Sarah Bolton is chief executive of Lighthouse Charity As we mark World Suicide Prevention Day, I am conscious that there will be a huge focus on what could or should be done to support our industry’s workforce. Greater awareness of some of the issues can only be a positive thing.…

Georgina Jones is deputy chief executive of charity SOS Silence of Suicide The new Labour government’s target of building 1.5 million homes over five years has been welcomed in many quarters, but what does this really mean for the welfare of construction workers in an industry that is already encountering…

Darren Brooks is head of technical and design at offsite manufacturer Premier Modular The national picture of mental health remains concerning, with one in six people in England experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week. Increasingly, the impact of the built environment on mental health is becoming…

Lisa Kerford is managing director of Aptus Our industry is an inherently dangerous one, which means adhering to the highest possible health and safety standards is of paramount importance. Every day, organisations across our sector are dealing with sites, schemes and projects that require rigorous protocols to ensure tasks are…

Richard Stockley is the managing director of health and safety consultancy RRC International The Factories Act of 1833 kickstarted a culture of health and safety in the UK, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act. But construction workers aren’t just risking their…