It’s no secret that construction is one of the most stressful industries to work in. While it can also be rewarding—especially because of the sense of accomplishment that comes with the ability to see the actual results of your work come together—it comes with its own challenges as well.
A recent study conducted by the National Library of Medicine (or NLM) showed that up to half of construction workers have moderate to severe anxiety. Workers that experience high levels of stress and anxiety are more susceptible to burnout, which can disrupt projects and hinder employee retention.
What makes construction so stressful?
Construction has its own unique issues that contribute to jobsite stress. Here are some of the main culprits:
Physical demands
It goes without saying that construction is one of the most physically demanding professions anyone can enter. Whether it’s lifting heavy objects, working outside in extreme temperatures, or working in hazardous conditions, this kind of work puts a lot of stress on the body, which often translates to stress on the mind as well.
Tight deadlines
The time constraints that come with construction work can also lead to stress. The constant pressure to meet deadlines and work quickly without making mistakes creates stress that lingers and has a habit of hanging over workers’ heads throughout the duration of the project.
This type of stress doesn’t leave when workers clock out, but often keeps them up at night and can contribute to more stress outside of work and even poor sleep patterns.
Poor communication
That same study cited earlier also indicates that interpersonal stress is one of the most significant stressors on the jobsite. In fact, 68% of construction workers cite problems with coworkers as a significant stressor. Another 60% cite social isolation.
Construction is a highly collaborative environment, so when communication and relationships break down, it can hinder work and create a stressful environment.
Job insecurity
Because construction is project-based, many workers don’t know how much they’ll make in a given year. That makes it difficult to plan for the future and creates uncertainty, leading to financial stress.
Environmental factors
Working out in the elements, whether it’s rain, extreme heat, or extreme cold, construction workers are exposed to conditions that most other workers are not. This physical stress often translates into mental stress.
How to manage stress on the jobsite
Luckily, there’s no shortage of prevention strategies when it comes to construction industry stress.
1. Better planning and organization
By improving the way you plan and organize around work, you can eliminate unnecessary stress and keep projects on track.
There are several different ways to do this. You can start by going digital for your daily reports so that you can keep communication consistent and make sure your whole team is up-to-date with time-stamped photos and videos.
Digital RFIs also help keep things moving along by speeding up response times from project owners and minimizing down time so workers don’t have to deal with the stress of stopped work and the uncertainty that comes with it.
You can also implement production tracking tools like equipment, material, and labor tracking to make sure everything (and everyone) is where they need to be when they need to be there.
2. Safety training
Safer jobsites are less stressful. By taking a proactive approach to safety and properly training employees, you can reduce the number of incidents and foster an environment more conducive to peace of mind.
Daily toolbox talks, particularly digital ones that make scheduling and attendance tracking easier, are a great way to be proactive about jobsite safety. You can also ensure employees feel confident about how they perform their tasks with digital checklists.
3. Open communication about mental health
By openly communicating with your workers about mental health resources and fostering an environment where employees feel confident enough to express their frustrations and be open about their struggles with mental health, you can help reduce jobsite stress.
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We’re your all-in-one tool for the field. Our project management tools, ranging from streamlined daily operations to safer conditions, our features can help by not only improving your operations and ROI, but by reducing employee stress as well.