By Jodie Clark McDougal of Davis Brown Law Firm
Published March 16, 2021
With high rates of fatal and non-fatal injuries, the construction industry is one of the most hazardous, but many do not realize that the safety and health concerns go beyond job site accidents.
People in the construction industry are particularly susceptible to mental health issues and suicide, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the rates of mental health issues across the industry and country as a whole.
As reported by the NAHB, more construction workers die by suicide each day than all workplace-related fatalities combined, and per a CDC report, the construction and extraction occupational group has had the highest male suicide rate out of all major occupation groups multiple times within the last 10 years.
Mental health issues, as well as associated behavior problems including alcoholism, have a direct impact not only on the employees suffering from those issues, but also on their employers by leading to increased absenteeism, high turnover, lost productivity, and workplace injuries. Employers should familiarize themselves with the laws relating to mental health, including ADA and FMLA. My colleagues in employment law have many resources, including a webinar recording reviewing pitfalls and recommended practices to address mental health at work. If you are concerned about substance abuse and considering a drug testing program, tread carefully. Iowa’s drug testing statute is among the most complex in the U.S. More information is available in this blog post.
In response to these issues, state and national industry groups, as well as industry publications, have started focusing on the mental health of workers within the industry. Here are some association resources and articles.
- NAHB Initiative on Mental Health: The NAHB has launched a new effort focused on mental wellbeing in the construction industry with an emphasis on helping association members support healthy work environments and be more proactive in looking at their own health and wellness.
- MBI’s webinar on mental health: Master Builders of Iowa is offering the following webinar in May: “Stigma, Safety and Policies: Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace”
- Safety Decision’s cover article“We Can’t Fix Mental Health with Duct Tape”
- ConstructConnect’s article- “Mental Health Initiatives for Construction Professionals”
Jodie Clark McDougal is a shareholder at the Davis Brown Law Firm. She is Chair of the Construction Department, and a member of the Construction, Real Estate, Litigation, and Insurance Defense Departments. She can be reached at JodieMcDougal@davisbrownlaw.com or 515.246.7951.