Accidents on construction sites have become a major concern for the Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF). This matter was highlighted recently by the WCPDF’s Workgroup on Construction and Related Professions, members of which believe that the situation is greatly compromised by the mental well-being of workers on site.

Notes Rudolf Murray, a WCPDF Management Committee Member and the Convenor of the Workgroup: “A critical factor which could lead to more site accidents and injuries on construction sites is the concerning and increasing challenge of mental health as a result of the immense pressures and unrealistic time constraints placed on contractors.

“While we urge all management involved in constructions sites to be aware of this, this matter must now also be brought into public scrutiny. Not only are many workers now on site seven days a week to keep up with the demands of construction timelines, but in addition they are at the coal face that deal with threats of violence posed by the construction mafia.”

Adds Petra Devereux, the Executive Director of Master Builders Association Western Cape (MBAWC) and also a member of the WCPDF Workgroup: “The workers face long hours in a high-risk environment with tight deadlines, job insecurity and a culture of stoicism, all of which work together to create an environment of stress, anxiety and emotional fatigue.”

According to a recent article published by the MBAWC (“Tackling mental health in the construction industry”), this is a global phenomenon as highlighted in a report issued by the international Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) last year. The report “Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025” reflects on a survey conducted originally in 2020, with the update revealing that little had improved.

“The latest report notes that workers remain reluctant to seek help, often suffering in silence until the stain becomes overwhelming,” notes Devereux. “Not only are the respondents reporting high levels of stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression but also suicidal thoughts.”

The findings mirror those within the South African construction landscape, with local research conducted by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL). Among the triggers are listed: unstable work conditions, economic stress, lack of diversity, substance abuse as a coping mechanism and a persistent environment that discourages openness.

Notes Murray, who is also the Western Cape Regional Manager of the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC), as well as the organisation’s national Acting Financial Manager: “Now imagine this in the Western Cape, where construction is currently a major economic driver.

“The plight of many construction workers on site, and who come from other areas of South Africa to seek whatever opportunities they can find, can be akin to those conditions experienced by migrant workers. Families that they hardly see more than once a year, if at all, are fully dependent on them, and the very lack of family interaction can be devastating to mental health.

“Nationally, SAFCEC has also found a rise in anxiety and burnout among supervisors and site managers, due to increased administrative and compliance demands.”

“Anyone suffering from this level of mental anguish on a site will impact on their job,” says the WCPDF’s Consulting Engineering South Africa (CESA) representative, Stefan van Huyssteen. “While we are all relying on innovations such as AI and new technologies to increase the speed of outputs and production, concrete still takes as long as it takes to cure. In many cases, expectations from consultants and clients are high, and strict timeframes and their consequences filter down to workers on site, making the pressure relentless.”

“Leadership within the property development and construction sector must show their visible support,” notes Devereux. “If managers don’t acknowledge mental health as a real issue, no policy or safety posters will make any difference. Mental health well-being must be embedded into all companies’ health and safety systems, just as they do with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or fall protection.”

The WCPDF  therefore encourages all those involved in the industry to follow the MBAWC’s recommended steps:

• Incorporating mental health into site-specific health and safety policies
• Providing access to counselling or Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) services
• Scheduling monthly mental-health talks
• Training supervisors in mental-health literacy and supportive communication
• Appointing mental-health champions or “first aiders” on site
• Offering anonymous reporting channels, and
• Ensuring fair workloads and realistic deadlines.

Concludes Devereux: “As part of the South African Occupational Health and Safety legislation, we really must stress that ‘Health’ in this piece of legislation must not be overlooked, given that people are the backbone of this industry.”