Construction's Mental Health Admission

The recent strike action at Sellafield should be a warning to employers across construction.

With the launch of the new Mental Health Joint Code of Practice (JCOP), the industry has effectively admitted that construction has a mental health problem and that workplace practices can contribute to it.

The JCOP identifies risks such as long hours, excessive workloads, poor workplace culture, financial pressures and a lack of support. In doing so, it sends a powerful message, poor mental health is not just an individual's problem. It can be a workplace problem too.

That is a landmark shift.

While the JCOP is not law, it creates a clear benchmark for good practice and gives the Health and Safety Executive a stronger framework to assess how employers are managing psychological risks. The HSE already expects companies to protect workers from work related stress and mental harm under existing legislation, and many believe regulatory scrutiny in this area will only increase.

Companies that ignore the warning signs do so at their own risk.

Workers are more aware of mental health than ever before and increasingly expect employers to take it seriously. Businesses that fail to act may face recruitment challenges, higher staff turnover, reputational damage and growing dissatisfaction among their workforce.

The JCOP does not give workers the right to strike.

But if employees feel their wellbeing is being ignored while the rest of the industry moves forward, tensions will inevitably rise.

Construction spent decades making physical safety non negotiable.

Mental health could be next.

The industry has admitted there is a problem, now employers must show they are part of the solution.