The Construction Reality
More construction workers die by suicide each day then all other workplace-related fatalities combined! Construction is the #2 industry in number of suicides and the highest rate of suicides:
- 45.3 per 100,000 workers
- Estimated > 5,500 suicides each year
- 15 suicides per day.
- That’s 4 times greater than the national average. Mining, Quarrying, and Oil/Gas Extraction are #1 in suicide rate.
Why?
Contributing Factors Include:
- Stoic, “old school,” and “tough guy” culture
- Fearlessness and “thrill-seeking”
- Promotion of supervision without leadership training
- Family separation and isolation with travel
- Sleep disruption/deprivation due to shift work
- Seasonal layoffs and end-of-project furloughs
- Tolerant culture of alcohol and substance use
- Chronic pain
- Industry with highest use of prescription opioids
- Performance pressure (schedule, budget, and quality)
- Access to lethal means