Congratulations to the PDCA on your
25th anniversary.
Dozier Worldwide Cranes is a proud
member of the PDCA and is honored to
supply quality crane rentals to other
members of the association.
Crane Rental Specialists
Serving the USA & Caribbean
Crane & Equipment Sales & Rentals
Freight Brokerage & Trucking
Kobelco Crane Dealer
912-330-5271
John@DozierCrane.com
www.DozierCrane.com
156 Pine Barren Rd.
Pooler, GA 31322
MENTAL HEALTH
their benefits. The catch-22 is that, at a time when they need their
health insurance the most, they don’t have it.”
Thompson agrees with the feast or famine nature of the construction
industry being a driver of poor mental health and suicide.
“Organizations must find a way to reduce harmful impacts at
work, and this includes finding ways to stabilize the norm, going
back and forth between too much work and not enough,” said
Thompson. “But more than anything, we need to make it okay to
talk about mental health in the workplace.”
Thompson says that historically, construction workers feared
getting bullied and ridiculed if they talked about their mental
health issues, or they feared getting fired. And while the situation
is changing, bridging the gap between past and present isn’t quite
as simple as it sounds.
“We need to get men to speak up,” said Thompson. “I say ‘men’
because more than 92% of our workforce is men, and this is part of
the problem – that traditional approach of men not asking for help.
It begins with building a culture where it’s okay to bring up these
issues without the fear of retribution.”
Krocka agrees.
“In the construction industry, everybody’s a ‘tough guy,’” said
Krocka. “The last thing they want to do is admit they have a problem.
It is becoming more normal but talking about mental health
for many still isn’t.”
Modern challenges require modern solutions
Krocka says that in the past, if your co-workers liked you, they
would hide you if you had a substance abuse problem or some
other issue. They’d cover for you, but they wouldn’t get you any
help. And while it’s great that we’re beginning to break the stigma
around mental health, Krocka thinks the modern world comes
with its own unique challenges.
“When you talk about social media,” said Krocka, “everybody
knows your business. You can’t hide things like you could before. In
a way, that’s good. I’m just not sure social media is the right forum.”
Alcohol and drug abuse aren’t anything new in the construction
industry, but the availability of certain drugs, particularly opioids,
is new. As is a global pandemic that is having some profound negative
consequences.
“COVID-19 is having a huge impact on mental health,”
said Thompson, “and many organizations were not prepared.
Organizations with emergency preparedness plans and employee
assistance programs tend to manage crises much better, which
means being better able to support their employees in their greatest
time of need.”
With so many people being unable to work, the insurance
component of healthcare is especially troubling right now, not to
mention the effects that the virus is having in other areas that can
contribute to declining mental health. In other words, while the
need for many is great, the resources may not be.
“Our industry should embrace a program that addresses the
lack of insurance for workers who aren’t currently working,” said
Krocka. “We need to find a way for people with mental health
issues get the help they need, even when they don’t have insurance.”
Promoting mental health in construction
moving forward
“When someone took their own life years ago, there wasn’t much
thought about it, other than to say, ‘Sorry to hear about that,’” said
Krocka. “These days, if you need help, you can find it. Or it may
find you.”
Krocka, a trustee member of the Construction Industry Alliance
for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), works with SMART Members
Assistance Program (MAP). Members can call 877-884-6227 to
speak with a professional counselor. The service is available 24/7,
365 days a year and it’s confidential.
“We’re just one organization,” said Krocka. “Everybody is getting
on board and providing these types of services now. It’s long
Randy Krocka giving a safety presentation at a 2019 conference
Photo: Randy Krocka
116 | ISSUE 4 2020 www.piledrivers.org
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