Kicking off Construction Safety Week: A Look Back to London

May 6-10 marks Construction Safety Week, a moment to pause, step back,and recognize the high stakes of safety in construction. Safety is more than checklists and gear, while that’s certainly part of the equation, it’s not the full picture. Safety is cultural - it’s part of every task, decision and (literal) step on a jobsite. We often think about safety in terms of physical protection, but recent startling statistics around mental health - and suicide - in construction, make it abundantly clear that safety must be holistic, taking into account both the body and the mind.?

In 2023, Procore and The B1M partnered to bring attention to the importance of mental health in construction through the Get Construction Talking campaign. I recently had the opportunity to attend an in-person event in London, where I co-hosted a conversation with Fred Mills, founder of The B1M. Joined by other panelists across the industry, we discussed the mental health crisis at hand and what actions we can all take to help reduce stigma and connect those in need with resources. These are my key takeaways:?

Sports can be a unifier

Steve Kerslake, founder of Construction Sport and event panelist, discussed the power of bringing construction professionals together in the context of sport. These unifying, team opportunities tend to lower the barriers created by project hierarchy and language that often keeps men from connecting with one another. Connection is required to create support systems, which help project teams manage the high stress and oftentimes dangerous and life threatening incidents encountered during the life of a project.

Asking for help can be a barrier to accessing help?

Logan Price, another event panelist and a self-identified mental health advocate, shared that he’s embarking on a trek to climb the Matterhorn, in an effort to raise funds for mental health charities. As he shared his personal journey with mental health, he noted that asking for help when you need it most, can be the hardest thing to do. When asked what he does to help keep his mental health on track, Logan said that journaling was a critical tool early on, and that over time he’s realized that getting into the gym and creating structure through routine has also helped. When he was at his lowest point, he underscored that his employer’s support created space for him to take time off from work to address what was going on. He stressed that just knowing the support was there made it easier to ask for help.?

Leadership plays an important role in support?

Rechael Valderama, Supporter Development Manager for Mates In Mind, shared how her organization partners with companies to ensure they’re prepared to respond to those in need. She said that the key to success is having a clearly defined path to action when someone bravely asks for help. Ensuring that leadership is well versed in how to take action is essential, which means employers need to be proactive in communicating their support for employees. Employers have an opportunity to create a clearly defined path to support mental health, which includes identifying who to go to for support, what steps should be taken when, and what help can be offered based on the individual's need. Because everyone is different, providing help may look different for someone dealing with addiction or substance abuse as opposed to depression and anxiety. Organizations like Mates in Mind help businesses build out action plans, connecting the business to the resources and experts needed to provide a holistic safety net.???

Technology can help

During the event, I had the opportunity to connect with two entrepreneurs who are leveraging wearable technologies to gather anonymized biometrics and behavioral data to improve predictive risk analysis for employers. Just like your smartwatch can alert you to pay attention to your heart rate, Tim Wade CEO and Co-founder of @BIOstress, has developed similar technology focused on gathering biometric data from a wearable device worn on the wrist to help business objectively measure and mitigate risk as well as provide direct feedback for individuals through behavioral modification programs. Likewise, Mathew Norbury Founder and CEO of @fclaboratories, has developed infrared technology to measure brainwave activity to, “make the invisible, visible.”?

It Starts with You

I wanted to say a special thank you to others who came out to the event to support this conversation and take action. Great to meet you in person Tania Johnston . Looking forward to continuing the conversation, together with Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada . Thank you to Kirsten Romo De Vivar Graves and Rodolfo Leon Urtuzuastegui for reminding me that cultural nuances impact the discussion on mental health in construction and spouses play an integral role in the healing journey for many. Always appreciate the support and ongoing championing of inclusion in construction from Christina Leia Riley and passionate commitment from Elvin Kenneth Box - great to meet you in person!

Taking Action

There are several ways you and your organization can get involved with Construction Safety Week. Join Procore Technologies on May 21 for a Get Construction Talking webinar, where I'll be hosting Fred Mills, joined by Ryan Companies CEO Brian Murray, and former CEO of Roberts Co, Alison Mirams. You can also check out resources like the Procore Safety Qualified, which are free, self-paced courses that are eligible for CEU credits.