Newsletter | September 2020
SUICIDE PREVENTION IN CONSTRUCTION
MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

The COVID-19 crisis has the potential to exacerbate anxiety, depression and other mental health issues among construction workers, according to an industry expert.

In any industry, suicide prevention and education requires a variety of resources, as well as strong leadership from management, safety professionals and human resources. Yet, according to Greg Sizemore, the first thing construction employers should do to alleviate stress on workers —  especially right now — is to be compassionate.  
Industry News
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PLANS: CRITICAL BUT UNDERUSED

If ever there was a business sector for which Employee Assistance Plans (EAPs) were made-to-order, it would be construction. EAPs are employer-sponsored programs that offer services to help employees deal with the various personal issues that might affect their work-life balance, from relationships and emotions to finances. Servicers provide options to combat unhealthy solutions like substance abuse that employees might otherwise use to handle stress.

Construction is known to be rife with behavioral risk factors stemming from a taxing, dangerous work environment. It has one of the highest rates of suicide (53.3 per 100,000 population), a 5% to 10% higher spend on opioids than any other sector and 15% of construction workers use illegal drugs.
PLAYING TO WIN: HOW TO DRIVE GROWTH THROUGH DIFFERENTIATION

Thinking about differentiation is a bit like the thinking that goes into the game of football. On the surface the concept is simple—advance the ball downfield to score. Once you successfully reach the end zone, you kick a field goal for an extra point; or if you really want to take a risk, run or pass for an extra two points.

Company differentiation is a similar concept: Moving downfield is a lot like the project pursuit process in the industry. It requires a lot of sweat, effort and energy to weave in and out of the competitors who also want to gain control of the football. Is it better to pass or run the ball? What is the best way to leverage the talent on the team? What will competitors likely do to regain control of the football?
Please forward any articles you would like to share with the membership to info@disca.org
Events & Programs
For the health and safety of our members, events will continue to be rescheduled or cancelled in adherence with government and medical guidelines.
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