Health and wellbeing among Australian construction workers (2022)

Summary

Helen Lingard and Michelle Turner have prepared a three-part series of summary reports which examine the primary factors impacting construction workers’ health and wellbeing. This work has been undertaken over a 20-year period and serves to highlight the long-standing nature of some of the work health issues that have become important topics of industry discussion and reform in recent years.

This first report re-visits evidence that construction workers’ health and wellbeing is adversely impacted by work conditions, examining the demands of project-based work, long work hours, burnout and gendered effects.

The second report reviews Australian research to determine why construction workers experience harmful job characteristics that can negatively affect their mental and physical health.

The third report outlines initiatives and changes that may create healthier ways of working in the construction industry.

Together, the three reports acknowledge and provide preliminary evidence that the health and wellbeing of all construction workers can be better protected when care is taken to reduce psychosocial risk factors and create a positive work environment.

However, the complex nature of construction work strongly suggests the need for a systemic, whole of industry approach to improving and sustaining the mental and physical health of the construction workforce.

Team

• Helen Lingard
• Michelle Turner

Publications

• Report 1 - Health and wellbeing among Australian construction workers: Evidencing the Problem (PDF)
• Report 2 - Health and wellbeing among Australian construction workers: Exploring the Systemic Causes (PDF)
• Report 3 - Health and wellbeing among Australian construction workers: Evaluating Solutions (PDF)