The Future of Construction

The wheels keep turning, the earth keeps spinning…however you want to say it, time marches on. As time marches on in the construction industry, there are currently a few positive things happening, a few negatives that continue to plague us, and a few unknowns.

On the positive end of the spectrum, I really do think we are seeing an increased adoption of technology in the #construction industry. One of the reasons this is so important is that this will encourage more research and development in contech, which has been historically overlooked. This means more innovations like robotic layout tools from companies like Dusty Robotics (if you haven’t seen this in action, you need to check it out), and robotic augmentation devices like the masonry laying robot from Construction Robotics I got to demo at last year’s World of Concrete , or the exoskeleton that Hilti North America showed off.

• See how a skilled mason can use the robot to take the load off
• See how the Hilti exoskeleton can be worn to reduce stress on the back

These are great innovations because one of the negative things that continues to plague the industry is a continued shortage of qualified workers. This includes all positions from skilled trades to construction managers. Innovations such as robotic layout tools will reduce the number of people needed to perform critical layout tasks (which is good because we don’t have enough people) and the augmentation devices will lessen the impact the physical activity has on our bodies, allowing us to continue longer in the industry while living a better life.

This brings me to another negative in the industry. Suicide rates seem to be higher among people in the construction industry than in other industries, and no one seems to have a definitive reason as to why this is. As for what to do about it, acknowledgement continues to be a big first step. The industry seems to finally be openly talking about the issues, acknowledging that they exist, and beginning to remove the stigma associated with mental health care.

Mental Health in the Construction Industry

I am not a touchy-feely kind of guy. Talking about mental health is not something that comes naturally or easy to me. One of the things that made me stop and take notice and made me realize how many people relate to this topic, occurred when I was working as a consultant for Okland Construction . I worked for months creating company specific on-demand video training related to safety on the jobsite. At one point, the Safety Director asked me to use mental health and suicide prevention as the topic for the coming month’s training video. It was one of the more difficult topics for me to tackle, but in the end, it was one of the most appreciated topics in the library. I always had employees tell me how much they enjoyed the training videos, but this time they went out of their way to track me down to tell me how much they appreciated us tackling the topic. That really made me take notice.

I think there are many issues in the industry that contribute to stress and mental distress. We work under constant, and difficult, deadlines. Hours can be long, and while the overtime pay is rewarding (and substantial) it also means more time away from home. There is also a constant fear of missing something…

Did I use the right version of the plans? Did I remember to document everything correctly? I better sit down and work on this report before I go home or I am going to forget everything I saw and did today!

It’s constant, and its stressful. I do think the industry is beginning to recognize that we have to address these things, and that this means addressing the issues on several fronts. Things that employers can do include offering an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) that provides immediate and direct access to mental health resources. While producing the training video for Okland Construction, I learned that most of these plans are affordable for the employer, and the benefits can be accessed by the employees and their families. It can also often be much faster than trying to research the information on your own or trying to track down someone to talk to on your own. Many people simply don’t know where to start, so giving them an accessible starting point can be critical.

Employers are also beginning to use technology to make the work environment less stressful to employees, doing things like adopting technology solutions that make collecting data easier, more accurate, and less time consuming. Resulting in the ability to spend more time at home not worrying about what you may have missed on the job site. Other technology that reduces the physical stress on your body can also have a positive impact on mental health, because living with constant pain is both stressful and can lead to opioid abuse.

As employees, its important for you to find these resources and take advantage of them. Instead of being stressed about new tech you are being told to use, embrace it. Start looking at it from the standpoint of what it can do to make your life better. Can it help you do your job faster so you can go home on time? Can it help you be more accurate so you aren’t worried about the boss criticizing your work?

If you have access to an EAP, check out the resources it provides. You can also find many resources available that are construction industry specific, which is a big change from the past.

• The Construction Suicide Prevention website contains a tremendous amount of free resources for employers looking to address mental health issues in the workplace
• CPWR--The Center for Construction Research and Training has a page that contains resources and information for employers and employees and can be accessed here
• CPWR also has one of the best mental health hazard alert posters, which you can download in English and Spanish
• Construction Working Minds is also a great resource that contains direct links to concise information that includes:
• I am in crisis
• I am worried about someone

If you have access to LinkedIn Learning through your employer, a personal account, or your school or public library, make sure to check out these courses:

• Preparing yourself for Change by Erin Shrimpton
• Coaching Your Team in a Dynamic Workplace by Dr Gemma Leigh Roberts
• Become a Trauma Informed Leader by Dawn Emerick, Ed.D
• How to Manage Feeling Overwhelmed by Heidi Hanna

Also, please repost and share this newsletter with others who would benefit from this information.

Stay Informed

Here are some additional ways to access more tips and advice for professionals in the?#aec?industries (#Architecture,?#Engineering,?#Construction):

1. Visit?The Construction Collaborative?at?www.cmsocial.net?to find ideas, tips and tricks, video tutorials, and to help form a community of construction professionals sharing ideas and solutions.
2. Follow me on LinkedIn, then click the ?? at the top of my profile page to be notified about events and to join in the conversations in my posts.
3. Subscribe to?Thoughts from the Field?to receive this bi-weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox and on LinkedIn, so you don't miss any topics.

Upcoming Events

Speaking of technology, I will be at the Blueprint: The Future of Real Estate conference in Las Vegas the week of September 11th. I am looking forward to connecting with companies like Dusty Robotics and colleagues from Pixly . That’s also the same week of the big RE+ conference on renewable energy and related topics, with industry exhibitors including Carhartt , 3M 公司 , and Kiewit .

I am working on getting more informed about connecting data in construction. As we adopt more tech and use more applications to make our work lives easier, sharing data between apps will be important. I will be checking out the Fieldwire by Hilti webinar on how to use their API to get a better understanding of what’s possible right now. That’s on September 13th, and you can register to attend here.

After that, I am speaking about the future of work at Autodesk University in November, so make sure to check out that conference where several other LinkedIn Learning instructors will be speaking, including Shaun 'SCB' Bryant, ACI (Platinum) and Paul Aubin .

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