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Road construction is an industry that keeps our country moving. People take pride in their work. At the same time, it is a tough and physically demanding business.
There is no greater priority than ensuring all our employees go home safe at the end of each day. But safety extends beyond physical well-being. Mental health is an often overlooked safety issue, but one of equal importance.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), serious mental health struggles are more than twice as common in male construction workers compared to the rest of the US. Generally, there is a known procedure for protecting workers physically. Protecting them mentally is less straightforward.
The foundation for mental well-being in a company has a three-pronged approach:
1. Create a Caring Culture where people feel safe to ask for help.
2. Raise Awareness through safety meetings, toolbox talks, social media and interpersonal messages.
3. Normalize the Topic by fighting the taboo on mental health struggles.
At Evergreen Roadworks™, we strive to foster a culture where people are not ashamed to admit weakness or ask for help. This type of culture must come from the top down. Anyone who knows Joe Lamb, Evergreen’s President, understands that he treats our team like family. “Joe is the kind of guy that looks out for his employees,” says Butch Cross, Safety Team Manager.
Butch shares that if someone is struggling, “we would get you what you need. It is important that stuff like that is happening top-down. 90% of our employees have been here for years and years. Workers keep coming back here because they are cared for by Evergreen.”
Raising awareness for mental health comes in many formats. This September, the safety team is focusing a toolbox talk on Suicide Prevention, to raise awareness for the issue and share how to advocate and care for those who are struggling. Sharing this information is important for increasing mental health literacy and equipping people with life-saving tools.
Mental health struggles can also have other consequences, such as leading people to substance abuse. Evergreen partners with Sandra Beecher from the Gateway Foundation, who gives talks on the resources available through her organization, which provides all levels of care for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and addiction.
Normalizing these topics means having conversations about the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Dan Nelson, Safety Team Manager, shares a weekly message with the field crews. A recent topic focused on the mental health of men in construction. “Men are more likely to have mental struggles, yet they often keep it to themselves because they don’t want to appear weak,” said Dan. Butch shares, “we try to tell everybody they can reach out to me or Dan or their boss if something is going on.”
Safety Team Managers: Butch Cross & Dan Nelson
Road construction crews naturally cultivate a culture of family and teamwork. Through all the hours spent together, this is a chance to go deeper and look out for one another. We encourage all Evergreen employees to lean into opportunities to have open conversations. You never know when someone may need help.
If you or someone you know is struggling, there are many resources available.
