Alarming statistics on Queensland building industry risks

The Construction WorkHealth Initiative Pilot study assessed over 1000 Brisbane and Gold Coast construction workers between September 2008 and February 2009, revealing some alarming statistics.

“Builders have a hard physical job and that may lull many of them into a false sense of security on their health,” said Queensland Premier Anna Bligh. “This study shows that they drink, smoke and eat too much. They don’t exercise enough and they’re putting themselves at risk.

“This isn’t about being a ‘wowser’. This is about educating people about health risks they face. The idea is to make sure they don’t die of skin cancer, they don’t drink themselves to death and they don’t die of a stroke or a heart attack before their time.

“In 2008 I launched my government’s Toward Q2 Tomorrows Queensland plan and one of our key targets was to cut obesity, smoking, heavy drink and unsafe sun exposure by one third by 2020.

“I intend to achieve that target and this report shows that our builders and other outdoors workers are a good place to start.”

The results show that 66% of construction workers are overweight or obese compared with 61% of the general Queensland population. Around 64% drink alcohol at risky or high-risk levels compared to 13% for the general population and 17% had ‘at-risk’ cholesterol levels.

One in five of the workers who received skin cancer screenings had suspected skin damage and needed immediate specialist attention, while 37% of workers had ‘at-risk’ blood pressure levels.

The Premier said a new taskforce consisting of government, union and employer groups will report back by the end of October with recommendations for a health promotion blitz among outdoor workers.

Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick said the study originated when the BLF approached the Building Employees Redundancy Trust and the former Department of Employment and Industrial Relations: “The BLF wanted assistance to conduct a health and wellbeing study in the construction industry.

“The groups realised that it was important to take action to identify problems now, instead of when it might be too late. By working together to turn the shocking statistics around, government and industry can help to make Queensland construction sites among the healthiest and safest in the nation.”