Stress is a major issue for the construction industry. 48% of workers have taken time off due to unmanageable stress, while a third deal with elevated stress every day – and 91% say they have felt overwhelmed at work.

But despite these statistics, the negative impact of workplace stress is still not widely talked about. Which is exactly why National Stress Awareness Month is such an important event for the industry.

What is National Stress Awareness month?

National Stress Awareness month is all about raising awareness of the connection between mental and physical wellbeing. Held every April since 1992, the goal is to remove the shame and stigma from mental health – and encourage an open dialogue about how to improve people’s experiences. 

But this raises the question: what can construction leaders actually do to tackle stress? Mental Health at Work provides some extremely valuable advice on building a more inclusive, open workplace culture. (You can find it here.) 

But more than anything, the key to reducing stress on-site is empowering workers. And to do that, you need to provide the right environment on-site – which is how providing the best mobile welfare units can help.

Mobile welfare units can help tackle stress in three key ways:

1. Creating a safe space

One of the most powerful ways to tackle stress is simply by talking about it openly. But research finds that 78% of construction workers don’t do this due to ‘shame and stigma’ – while 77% don’t because they fear the judgement of their peers.

A comfortable welfare unit creates a better environment to tackle this problem. Workers can relax, and feel they are in a safe space to discuss their problems either with management teams or their co-workers.

2. Enabling regular breaks

Construction shift work can be brutal: long hours of physical working, out in the open. Research has shown that not taking enough breaks has a detrimental effect on stress levels – as well as a host of other negative repercussions for both physical and mental health.

Mobile welfare units enable workers to take regular breaks that help them replenish their energy and recentre themselves. Welfare Hire’s units offer extra space, too – to ensure everybody who needs to take a break can do so.

3. Signalling employers’ intent

64% of construction workers want their employers to do more to support their mental health, while 55% won’t open up about their struggles because they fear negative consequences to their job. Employers need a way to signal to their workers that it’s okay to talk – and investing in better mobile welfare units is a great way to do that.

Larger, newer mobile welfare units make clear that employees’ wellbeing is valued. They demonstrate leaders’ desire to do more for their workers. And most importantly, they show that it’s not all just talk – leaders are genuinely willing to act.

The construction industry is making great progress in its shift towards more sustainable practices, with 47% of industry executives saying sustainability is top of mind for them. But the majority of sites could still consume less water – all they need is the right technology to facilitate more efficient usage.

For leaders looking to reduce their water usage, mobile welfare units are a great place to start. The Smart Water System included in Welfare Hire’s units delivers significant reductions through the following four key features:

Four steps to reduce water waste:

1. Rainwater harvesting

One significant and easy win to avoid water wastage is harvesting rainwater. This immediately reduces the need for alternate water supplies, both cutting costs and increasing sustainability. The only problem is most welfare units are unable to do this.

That’s why the ECOXLi Mobile Welfare Unit features a Smart Water System which facilitates the harvesting of rainwater. But simply using rainwater is not enough – you need to maximise its usage.

2. Grey water recycling

Much of the water used in mobile welfare units is for sinks. But this ‘grey water’ can actually be recycled and fed back into the system to be used for flushing toilets. 

Our Smart Water System enables such recycling, so that rainwater can be used – and then reused – to create a sustainable water ecosystem. The effectiveness of this is really only limited by the unit’s capacity to store water.

3. increased storage

Harvesting rainwater and recycling grey water is fantastic. But in order to support a full workforce, the mobile welfare unit also needs a very large storage tank. Not only does this mean it can harvest more water; it means the waste tank takes longer to reach capacity, which reduces the frequency of servicing.

Welfare Hire’s Mobile Welfare Units are fitted with XL tanks that take more than twice as long to reach capacity. This reduces the servicing frequency dramatically, which in turn helps to cut costs on transport and lower CO₂ emissions.

4. Smart telemetry

The final step to reduce water usage is monitoring. Leaders need the ability to see how much water their units are using and optimise the timing of servicing.  At the least, mobile welfare units should incorporate clear gauges for fresh and waste water tanks.  

In addition, smart telemetry is also available with some models of welfare unit.  This technology provides live data and the ability to monitor and schedule servicing. This enables leaders to monitor water usage with ease, helping them use resources more efficiently, reduce costs and ultimately be proactive in combating water waste.

As the rail industry grapples with a skills crisis, organisations are beginning to recognise the importance of wellbeing and inclusion onsite. A 2021 Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) survey found that over 40% of rail workers were suffering from a mental health condition, which had a “hugely detrimental effect on their employers”, impacting cost, performance and safety. RSSB added that, while the COVID-19 pandemic likely contributed to this crisis, more must be done to support staff – with a focus on “workplace factors” and helping individuals who might be “socially excluded”.

Wellbeing on Rail construction sites

In this way, employee wellbeing is paramount on rail construction sites, with mental health and burnout an important consideration.  

And improving wellbeing isn’t just important from a duty-of-care perspective – it can also help employers to recruit diverse new talent, retain existing staff, and boost productivity. Indeed, RSSB reported that “sickness absence was five times higher (in rail workers) than the general population pre-COVID and six times higher than the general population during the pandemic” – figures that will undoubtedly impact bottom lines.

Add to this the fact that rail still has a diversity problem (a 2021 Network Rail report found that just 3.9% of operations and maintenance staff are women), and it’s clear that more can be done to make onsite environments safe, inclusive and positive.

Modern Welfare facilities improve wellbeing

While onsite facilities (particularly welfare units) might seem like little more than a practical necessity, they can have a dramatic impact on wellbeing. Indeed, for team members working outdoors, a warm, dry and comfortable space can help make a big difference.

Traditional and older welfare facilities are often poorly maintained or lacking the space and comfort to allow workers to take a proper break onsite, contributing to the lack of support many feel at work – these are the “workplace factors” that, if improved, could transform culture and conditions onsite.

As such, it pays to invest in quality welfare units; with access to additional space, modern kitchen appliances, hygienic non-chemical water-flush WC facilities and enough power outlets, employees will be able to relax and recharge during downtime. Providing the right facilities could even encourage them to take breaks more regularly.

Larger, welfare spaces promote positive culture

Comfortable, spacious welfare units (like Welfare Hire’s modern design range) also encourage workers to come together, sharing their experiences and building relationships. This is particularly important for new starters or those with disabilities – who, in RSSB’s words, are at greater risk of being “socially excluded.”

In its survey report, RSSB added that only half of those respondents suffering from a mental health condition sought help. Well-designed welfare units provide a safe, quiet space in which employees can talk and open up – whether that’s to a colleague or line manager.

Indeed, the right welfare equipment won’t just make workers more comfortable – it could help to foster a more positive culture onsite, boosting morale and improving staff retention rates.

Improving inclusivity onsite

Providing better welfare facilities could even help to improve inclusivity onsite. Higher-end units often feature separate, hygienic toilets (Welfare Hire’s units are fitted with ceramic water-flush WCs) or changing rooms for privacy.

Investing in providing the most modern and innovative welfare will send an important message to the workforce – this in turn creates ripple effects, leading to improvements in productivity, employee inclusion, retention and overall staff morale. And, with major projects like HS2 set to create thousands of new jobs in future, building a motivated and diverse workforce is more important than ever.

While improving wellbeing and inclusivity is a complex undertaking, the right welfare facilities can help to make rail construction sites a more positive, more inclusive and safer environment for workers. This, in turn, could have a positive impact on recruitment and staff retention – areas of focus for the industry, now more than ever.

Article published in association with Rail Business Daily