Product category:
Building Trade Associations and Institutes
News Release from: Chartered Institute of Building [CIOB] | Subject: Stress builds across UK Construction
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 March 2006
Stress builds across UK Construction
Survey by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) felt that the construction industry today is more stressful than it was five years ago.
A majority of UK construction professionals surveyed by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) felt that the construction industry today is more stressful than it was five years ago Almost 1000 construction managers and other professionals took part in the CIOB research to establish whether occupational stress is occurring within the construction industry
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 12 Mar 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
CIOB Commission Welcomes Graduate Recruit Upturn
Applications to join building courses up to mid-January had risen by 16 per cent. Civil engineering courses are up by 25 per cent and architecture by 15 per cent.
'Urban Renaissance' Held Back By Funding Obstacles
London Assembly has called upon the UK Government to show more determination in assisting public and private sector organisations to find new ways of funding large-scale regeneration projects.
The research studied the main causes of occupational stress by examining different areas of the individual's role within the organisation, including physical work environment, the organisation itself and other construction specific potential stressors such as site safety and public misconceptions of the industry.
Although respondents worked for various types of organisations the largest group (41%) were employed in companies with more than 500 employees and were aged between 25 and 55.
Of the 68% to have suffered from stress, anxiety or depression only 27% had sought medical advice, and only 6% of those who had experienced occupational stress had taken time off and were still working.
Further reading
London's Olympic Demand For Construction Funding
The London Development Agency is responsible for preparing and implementing the Mayor's business plan and invests more than £300 million a year in supporting the growth of new and existing businesses.
Construction Industry Better Deal On Software
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has announced that it will be offering its members access to a range of IT resources as part of a special CAD and IT service.
Skills shortages are also a cause of occupational health issues, with 55% of respondents indicating that inadequate staffing levels was a factor in causing stress.
Michael Brown CIOB deputy chief executive said, "Most people would recognise that occupational health issues like stress, anxiety and depression are present in every industry".
"The construction industry however can in one breath be challenging and stimulating, providing exciting careers and a great sense of achievement, and in the next the pressures can take their toll raising stress levels and tipping individuals into anxiety and depression".
"This research suggests that the impact on the individual's performance, and their colleagues, must be significant and disturbing in that many respondents will be responsible for the health and safety of others".
"The research also shows that only 6% of those who have suffered stress admit to having taken time off as a direct result".
"However, 51% of respondents indicated that taking time off helps them to cope with occupational stress".
"This difference may be due to a perception that they would be stigmatized and that there would be a negative impact on their career if they admitted to suffering from stress".
"We also need to be aware that poor planning, lack of feedback and generally poor communications feature highly as a cause of stress.
These demonstrate weaknesses in management and must be addressed as a matter of good practice".
"The Health and Safety Executive have estimated that across all industries almost 13 million working days were lost to stress, depression and anxiety and occupational stress costs businesses at least £4bn.".
A copy of the full report is available at the website.
• Chartered Institute of Building [CIOB]: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
