Construction company addresses mental health issues

Resource contractor Ostwald Bros has taken a major step to address mental health issues for the benefit of its construction workers using the Mates in Construction (MIC) program across its sites.

“Our people are our greatest asset and this agreement with MIC will help us continue to ensure their safety and overall wellbeing,” Ostwald Bros General Manager Matthew Ostwald said.

The agreement will have a specific emphasis in the area of mental health and suicide prevention with support services accessible through specially trained staff on Ostwald Bros projects.

An Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention report showed Queensland construction workers had one of the highest suicide rates in Australia.

The suicide rate for construction workers was reportedly more than twice that for all Queensland men.

Ostwald said the company found the statistic confronting and it was sure the association with MIC would be a major benefit to its workforce.

MIC’s main aims are to raise awareness about suicide in the workplace, make it easy to access help and to ensure the help offered is practical, professional and appropriate.

It won the National Safety Council Award for the 2012 best workplace health and wellbeing program and since its launch in October 2008 more than 18,000 construction workers have participated in the General Awareness Training.

About 1500 workers are now functioning as Connectors and 200 of those have been trained as suicide first aid workers.

“Connectors are workers trained to spot the danger signs of depression or other personal problems and assist in the appropriate way,” Ostwald said.

Ostwald said the dedicated industry counselling line was now receiving an average of five calls a day.