I want to ask if anyone else out there thinks the concept of worker total health was too big or too scary for our industry to accept. I’m concerned not only because I hear anecdotally of workers experiencing struggles that no one has time to address, but also because the number of people signing the Suicide in Construction Awareness Proclamation has dropped off considerably as we’ve moved into 2024. One of these barometers is, admittedly, based on stories that reach me, thus is non-quantifiable. The other is data I can track and see as woefully lacking.
It’s as if the couple hundred people who cared have signed the proclamation to indicate they intend to further the conversation about mental health wellness and suicide prevention in the asphalt and construction industry, and then did not share the concept outside their circle(s).
I’m sure there are plenty of safety managers and insurance professionals talking the talk, but how many asphalt contractors have instituted programs where workers can comfortably approach a co-worker, supervisor, HR director or member of the C-suite with concerns about their own—or a team member’s—mental health status? Let’s not overlook the fact that a worker exhibiting positive presenteeism is likely to complete a higher quality job and is also a safer worker on that job than the worker who is distracted by the stressors contributing to mental health lapses.
This is the Suicide in Construction Awareness Proclamation, which is housed at TheAsphaltPro.com/SuicidePrevention for your convenience. You have until Dec. 30, 2024, to access, read and sign the document. Learn more at the link.
A worker exhibiting signs of distraction due to overwhelming grief, undue financial stress, mismanaged medications, severe depression or any other mental health disruption is not exhibiting presenteeism. The distracted worker is more likely to make a mistake—supervisors should hope those are mere quality control mistakes that result in a few penalties and deducts rather than safety lapses that result in injuries or loss of life.
What I want to drive home with this month’s editor’s letter is the idea that we have an opportunity to alert our safety directors and C-suites to the epidemic of suicide and mental health struggles in our industry before losing more of our valued and respected workers to these real-world issues. It can start with reading, comprehending and signing a proclamation; and it can grow with exploring the resources available to every member of the team for helping your employees recognize and address mental health matters.
I want to encourage you to take two to three minutes out of your day to visit the Suicide Prevention page, to read Vince Hafeli’s mission, and to sign the proclamation that states you are now aware of the problem in our industry, you care about the problem, and you’re willing to talk about the problem with a heart toward helping solve it. Here is the link to visit right now: https://theasphaltpro.com/suicideprevention/
Stay Safe,
Sandy Lender