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.

 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