Mental Health on Construction Sites

In construction, we rightly place an emphasis on physical health and safety. Job sites have signs everywhere reminding people to wear the appropriate personal protection equipment, we perform daily talks on safety at the site, and teach workers details of manual handling and lifting techniques. But where is the discussion of mental health and its importance? Depression and anxiety are growing higher than musculoskeletal disorders in the construction sector.

Add to that the overwhelming stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left construction workers in an environment marked by personal and professional uncertainty, and you’ve got a recipe for tragedy on tap, one that left unchecked has the power to dent the enormous strides in worker safety that the industry has achieved. 

Sometimes the conversations will be awkward, but you can’t ignore it anymore. As a front-line supervisor, you are responsible for everyone on your jobsite. This one-day course will give you the practical tools and techniques to address the mental health and wellness of your crew.

Topics:   

• Eliminate the stigma
• Recognize the outward signs and red flags
• How to have the conversation
• Mental health toolbox
• How to know you have done all you can do
• Support for the supporter
• Make it part of the everyday culture

Up-and-coming and mid-level Supervisors.

Wendy Hofford, WH Strategic Drive Inc.

Wendy is the President of WH Strategic Drive Inc. a facilitation, training and consulting firm specializing in leadership, human resources, and human behaviour in the workplace. Wendy brings her experience as a human resources director and director of operations to organizational leaders from the front line up to senior management. 

Wendy has spent the last nine years working in the construction industry as an HR Director, a national safety officer and a strategic leadership advisor. Prior to that she fulfilled a role as a director of operations in Saskatchewan and Ontario. 

As a professional speaker, trainer and facilitator with the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, certified speaker and trainer with John Maxwell Leadership and the Gallup Strengths Organization along with a diploma as an adult educator, Wendy shares her skills, education and experience with her audience. Wendy recently published her first book: Rip Off the Bandaid! Have that tough conversation.

Wendy previously held a seat on the Divisional and Advisory Committee for the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba, and on the board of directors for Manitoba Women in Construction. Through engaging, energetic facilitations, presentations and consultations Wendy works to help individuals and organizations develop, grow and be better than they thought they could be.

With Building Supervisors for Tomorrow (BST), up-and-coming and mid-level supervisors gain the knowledge and confidence to move into management roles. BST puts an emphasis on practical knowledge, providing participants with the additional skills and resources needed to excel at new challenges on the job site.

Effective construction supervision requires a wide variety of skills, such as people skills (communication, teamwork, conflict resolution, coaching), technical skills (planning, meetings and delegation), and management skills (human resources and authentic leadership).

This comprehensive program provides it all, and is delivered in manageable segments by industry experts with extensive hands-on experience in construction’s ICI sector. Participants have the flexibility to attend modules in any order. Once participants have completed all 10 courses, including Leadership for Safety Excellence delivered by the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba, they will be awarded a Building Supervisors for Tomorrow (ICI) certificate.

For more info, check out this brochure: BST 2023-2024 Schedule