Health and Safety is hugely important within construction and thankfully it has come a long way in the last 15 years (since i last worked in construction). I have family and lots of friends who still work in the industry, so i’m fully aware all of the certifications you need to have and P.P.E required, just to be on site nowadays.
No one can argue that is hasn’t improved vastly in the U.K in recent years.
The Safety part is nailed, but is the Health?
There is a BIG emphasis on Health and Safety in the construction industry (and rightly so). But there is an even bigger gap between The Health and Safety elements.
‘Health and Safety’ is a commonly used phrase across the globe, but are they really on a level playing field in the construction industry?
At GWD Performance, we don’t believe they receive anywhere near the same level of attention. From what we can see, Safety is at an all time peak whilst Health lags way behind.
But it is slowly changing and improving!
In the last four years that we have been working with construction companies, we have seen a lot more attention being given to Health within the industry. More companies are adopting initiatives to support employee fitness and morale, such as team mud runs and bike rides. Plus, mental health awareness has moved on significantly and it is now being spoken about more openly by both men and women in the workplace.
But STILL, as a whole we have never been unhealthier.
- In construction around 2 million working days were lost each year between 2016/17 and 2018/19 due to workplace injuries (19%) and work related illness’ (81%)
- The Economic cost of workplace injury and new cases of work-related ill health in the Construction industry in 2017/18 is estimated at £1.2 billion. This accounts for 8% of the total cost of all industries.
- Back pain and stress related illnesses are at a record high and these are the top reasons for work-related absences.
It’s clear from these stats that there is still much more companies in the construction industry can do to support the health and wellness of their employees.
So what is Corporate Wellness for the construction Industry?
Corporate wellness refers to any activity or policy adopted by a company to improve the health and wellness of their employees. It can include on-site fitness programmes, education around nutrition and healthy food choices, team-building events and more.
In today’s demanding world of construction, employers have a responsibility to help their employees lead a fit and healthy lifestyle and corporate wellness programmes offer a solution for this.
By introducing a corporate wellness programme into your organisation you can:
- Build a healthier, happier and more productive workforce
- Increase staff morale and energy levels as employees will feel invested in and valued
- Support your team to become fitter, leaner and stronger to reduce the risk of workplace injuries
- Boost acquisition and retention of quality staff by becoming a more attractive company to work for
At GWD Performance, we focus on improving four key areas that have a profound effect on the overall health of your employees:
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Sleep
- Stress Management
Supporting your employees in each of these areas will have a positive impact on them both in and out of the working environment. This will in turn have a positive effect on your business and your culture from the top down and bottom up.
Hear what Ellice at Taylor Wimpey South Midlands has to say about our Corporate Wellness Programme.
Download our Corporate Wellness Initiatives for the Construction Industry PDF below
If you’d like to find out more about corporate wellness or how it could benefit your employees and your business, get in touch.
Gavin Denning
