ClickCease
 

OSHA: Construction Industry Suicidal Risk Addressed

by | Jun 21, 2019 | Employee Health Medical Management, Health Guidelines, Occupational Health Management, OSHA

Construction Industry Suicidal Risk Addressed in OSHA Published WebpageThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a new webpage that provides various resources for workers on suicide prevention.

Resources on the OSHA webpage include contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as information from the Center for Construction Research and Training, the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and more.

According to OSHA, suicide is a serious public health concern that can have lasting harmful effects on:

  • Individuals
  • Families
  • Workplaces
  • Communities.

Additionally, men in the construction and extraction industry had the highest rate of suicide among all occupational groups in the U.S. in 2015, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Thirty-eight percent of construction workers in the U.S. in 2018 were between ages 45 and 64. Coinciding with this statistic is the fact that in 2017, the highest suicide rate in the U.S. was among males between ages 45 and 54, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

With all of this in mind, what can safety professionals, supervisors and employers do to help prevent suicide and get workers the resources and assistance they need?

Start Conversations

A major roadblock to addressing this issue in the construction industry and elsewhere is the stigma that has surrounded the issues of depression and suicide and the reluctance to talk about it. For many years, these have been taboo subjects, making it all the more difficult for those who may be contemplating suicide to get the help they need.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to simply talk to workers about what is going on in their lives so that they feel they have an outlet to discuss issues they are experiencing.

When having a conversation with a colleague about personal difficulties, keep these three key point in mind to work toward a positive result.

  • Listen.  Be a good listener to your colleagues. Often, all a co-worker may need is for someone to listen and understand what they are going through. In many cases, in the process of talking through the problems they are facing, they may be able to find a solution. The QPR InstituteSafeTalk, and Construction Working Minds offer guidance on training personnel on what to look for in someone who may be at risk for suicide and how to start a conversation.
  • Ask direct questions. Difficult as it may be, it’s important to be direct about the topic of suicide and to approach it in a way that is compassionate and empowering, to let the person know that someone is there for them to provide the partnership and support throughout their struggle.
  • Direct them to qualified resources. Once you’ve started the conversation and brought underlying issues to the surface, the important next step is to put the person in touch with the appropriate resources. Organizations such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Construction Working Minds, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provide tools and treatment resources for those in need of assistance.

Speak with an Expert

Want to learn more?

Contact Us

Can't wait? Call us today!
(877) 502-9466 | (281) 419-7063

Solutions

"We have an incredible safety record; no OSHA recordables for the 6 years I’ve been here and I attribute that to Axiom’s involvement.

The nurses are so wonderful and so attuned to the Employees and help them return to work safely after an injury. They listen very well and the education is the most important. Our employees and managers love them.

Thank you for all that you do."

Rhonda Wright

HR Manager, Tremco CPG Manufacturing

Mark Robinson

President & CEO

Dara Wheeler

Chief Marketing Officer

Dr. Scott Cherry

Chief Medical Officer

Chuck Kable

Chief Legal & HR Officer

Jordan Wheeler

Chief Operations Officer

Chad Winkle

EVP of Sales

Jason Miner

Chief Information Officer

Bryan Granier

Chief Financial Officer

Resources

Flu Management in The Workplace