Suicide Prevention in Construction: Helping Protect the Whole Worker

By: Jon F. Kabance RKT

In construction, safety plays a part of every single day. Workers put on the proper PPE, follow procedures and watch out for potential hazards that could cause serious injury on the job. But one of the industry’s greatest threats isn’t always visible.

The rate of death by suicide for construction workers is nearly 5 times the rate of all other construction fatalities on the jobsite. It’s a staggering reality that’s pushed the construction industry to think about what it really means to keep workers safe, not only physically but mentally as well.

Safety Doesn’t Stop at Physical Hazards

Construction is a demanding job. The hours are often long or irregular and involve physically strenuous tasks. There’s often frequent travel from site to site and a lot of time spent away from family, not to mention injuries and chronic pain. All of this can take a toll over time.

And when a worker steps onto a project site, they don’t leave their lives outside of work at the gate. Some may also be navigating financial stress, relationship challenges, poor sleep, substance use, grief or other concerns that never become visible on the jobsite.

A mental health crisis can rarely be linked back to a single reason or reduced to a single warning sign. But the disproportionately high rate of suicide within construction makes one thing clear: worker well-being deserves a place in the industry’s broader conversations about safety. That’s why we at BIOKINETIX applaud the industry’s efforts during Suicide Prevention Month in September to encourage us all to think more broadly about worker safety and the factors that can affect someone’s mental well-being on and off the job.

Connection Matters

One of the simplest ideas behind suicide prevention happens to be the most human: people need to know they’re not alone. It doesn’t require having the perfect words or knowing how to solve someone else’s problems. Sometimes it starts with noticing people around you, checking in and making sure teammates know where support is available when they need it.

For anyone experiencing emotional distress or a suicidal crisis the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days week by calling or texting 988.

A number of BIOKINETIX clients have participated in the 988 Challenge to help make that number easier to remember. The challenge extends warm-ups to include nine pushups, eight squats and eight high fives with teammates nearby, combining movement with a simple reminder to connect with the people around you. While the activity is small by design, the message behind it is much bigger.

Keep the Conversation Going

Construction has made enormous strides when it comes to protecting workers from physical hazards. The conversation around suicide prevention is a reminder that worker safety is not a finished definition.

As the industry continues to change, so should the way we think about what it means to protect the people doing the work.