A quarter of construction workers reported work-related mental health issues in the past year, according to WorkSafe data.
WorkSafe New Zealand has developed data on psychosocial risks for the construction, agriculture, manufacturing and forestry sectors, as well as for all New Zealand workers.
The infographics collate existing WorkSafe data into an easily digestible format and will support a range of industries to easily find data on the psychosocial risks and protective factors relevant for them.
Psychological harm
The percentage of construction workers that report experiencing the following in the last 12 months:
- 25% – any work-related mental health or wellbeing issue
- 16% – work-related anxiety
- 14% – work-related depression
- 14% – high work-related stress
- 7% – new mental health or wellbeing issues
Self-rated health
Self-rated health is a key indicator for monitoring quality of life and population health.
Construction workers rated their health similar to all workers.
Work-related suicide
Research reviewed 1,678 coronial findings (from applicable cases) between 2017–2021.
- 8% – an estimated 8% of workers who die by work-related suicide each year are in construction
- 5 – estimated number of construction workers who die by work-related suicide each year
All 16 construction workers who died by work-related suicide during 2017– 2021 experienced significant work-related stressors. The following work-related stressors appeared in work-related suicides by people who worked in construction:
- How work is designed
- Job demands
- Workload and work pace
- Job security and precarious work
- Social factors at work
- Work–life balance
- Bullying and victimisation
- Work environment
- Work injury
- Work context
- Making a mistake at work
- Performance management process
- Starting a new job or business
Offensive behaviours
Offensive behaviours can cause harm to the person they are directed at as well as people witnessing the behaviour. Repetitive or severe exposure can cause both physical and psychological harm.
Percentage of construction workers who were exposed at least once in the last 12 months:
- 22% – bullying
- 16% – threats of violence
- 20% – cyberbullying
- 11% – sexual harassment
- 10% – physical violence
Policies around bullying, harassment and violence
41% of construction employers report they do not have a policy to support the management of incidences of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment.
48% of construction employers report they do not have a policy to guide their response to violent incidents, including threats of violence.
Psychosocial risks
Construction workers are more likely to be exposed to:
- higher work pace
- role conflicts
- higher quantitative demands.
Protective factors
Protective factors can mitigate the impact of risk factors and may enhance mental wellbeing.
Construction workers are more likely than all New Zealand workers to report:
- meaning of work
- sense of community at work
- role clarity
What workers in construction say makes a good day
- strong interpersonal relationships
- recognition and reward
- Support
- organisational culture
- role expectations
- work-life balance
Employer attitudes
84% of construction employers feel a strong sense of responsibility for the mental health of staff and how well they get on with others.
Mentally healthy work concerns
This data involves mentally healthy work concerns WorkSafe received from 26 April 2022 to 1 May 2023.
7% of mentally healthy work concerns that WorkSafe received in that period were raised from workers in the construction sector (19 out of 283 concerns).
Employers’ health and safety perceptions
Percentage of construction employers that agree with the following statements:
- 70% – we make the time and effort to ensure we’re up to date with changes in health and safety legislation
- 63% – health and safety is a real investment in our business
- 36% – the main reason we follow health and safety rules is so we don’t get in trouble
- 28% – complying with health and safety regulations is a cost to our business, with little benefit
- 27% – management wouldn’t need to get involved in health and safety if workers just used their common sense
- 88% – we have a strong safety culture where each person is always watching out for each other’s health and safety
Employers’ health and safety practices
Percentage of construction employers that:
- 36% say they conduct an assessment on workers’ level of exposure to a health risk
- 25% say they provide workers with health checks/monitoring for health problems that could be related to their work
- 65% say they make changes to the work environment or equipment to reduce the risk to people’s health and safety
- 37% say they develop or update a formal management plan or policy to address key health and safety risks.
