Constructing better health and wellbeing? Understanding structural constraints on promoting health and wellbeing in the UK construction industry

• Pages: 146-159
• Date: 03 June 2019
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-03-2018-0031
• Published date: 03 June 2019
• Author: Esmée Sinéad Hanna,Steven Markham
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Healthcare management,Hr & organizational behaviour,Human resource policy,Employee welfare

Constructing better health and

wellbeing? Understanding

structural constraints on

promoting health and wellbeing in

the UK construction industry

Esmée Sinéad Hanna

De Montfort University, Leicester, UK, and

Steven Markham

The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

Abstract

Purpose –The construction industry has high rates of work-related ill health. Whilst there have been more

recent calls for a “health like safety”narrative within the industry, health has still predominantly been viewed

via health risks rather than a more holistic conceptualisation of health and well-being. The workplace is

viewed as a fruitful site for health promotion work, yet we know little about the possibilities and promise of

health promotion within the construction industry. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach –This paper explores the views of stakeholders with health-related roles

and responsibilities within the UK construction industry. From the 21 semi-structured qualitative interviews,

thematic analysis was conducted and two key themes emerged: the construction industry as anti-health

promoting and understanding industry-specific health issues.

Findings –The construction industry faces significant constraint in attempting to promote better health and

well-being due to its makeup, yet the health and well-being issues of the industry notably stress, and early

retirement are major issues for both the industry and individuals.

Practical implications –The authors argue that only through understanding the structural constraints of the

industry in this way can the possibilities and potentials for undertaking healthpromotion workbefullyembedded

within the industry in order to help create meaningful change for both employees and the industry as a whole.

Originality/value –This paper offers insight into the challenges that exist within construction for

promoting positive employee health and well-being and takes an in-depth approach to exploring why health

promotion may not be occurring within the industry.

Keywords Workplace health, Qualitative research, Health promotion, Construction, Structural constraints

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

The construction industry has been seen to have one of the highest rates of work-related

illnesses across occupational groups (McGlone and Baker, 2009; Brenner and Ahern, 2000).

Construction workers, as blue-collar workers, are suggested to be “at the bottom of the socio-

economic power gradient and have poor health outcomes, higher rates of disability, chronic

disease and mortality”(Du Plessis et al., 2013 cited in Fenton et al., 2014, p. 16). Reasons for

poor health are often seen to be due the prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions, such as

back injuries, fractures, fall injuries or arthritis, among construction workers as well as

respiratory issues, both of which can be seen to be related to the features of the role (Brenner

and Ahern, 2000; Ajslev et al., 2013). Existing research also suggests that the nutrition of

construction workers is viewed as poor (McGlone and Baker, 2009) and poor nutrition has

been linked to chronic disease among construction workers, and can be a factor which

impacts on workforce performance, including injuries and accidents (Okoro et al., 2017).

Given the makeup of the construction workforce remains predominantly male, issues of

masculinity and the linkage with negative or poor health have also been seen to exist in

International Journal of Workplace

Health Management

Vol. 12 No. 3, 2019

pp. 146-159

© Emerald PublishingLimited

1753-8351

DOI 10.1108/IJWHM-03-2018-0031

Received 23 March 2018

Revised 31 August 2018

2 January 2019

Accepted 15 February 2019

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

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