Addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace

At the recent Scaffolding Association AGM, Joscelyne Shaw, Executive Director of the charity, began her presentation on Mates in Mind’s work with a shocking statistic – that with every suicide, up to 135 other lives may be impacted.

Talking about mental health and talking about employers being responsible for mental health and wellbeing is still an issue that some don’t believe should be dealt with at work. And though only a few may challenge this discussion openly given the groundswell, it is important to recognize that not everyone is convinced that this is something that it’s an employer’s responsibility directly. I think this is worth unpacking.

This is why Mates in Mind is so important – we are looking to create the clarity as well as confidence for employers to understand what it is that they need to be thinking about when looking to address mental health. We are not expecting everyone to be experts in occupational health, psychology or even psychiatry. But ignorance of what may be legal duties is not enough.

Employers’ legal obligation

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999), as an organisation, employers have a legal obligation to protect their employees from stress at work by undertaking a risk assessment and acting upon on it. This applies not only on an organisational level, but also at a departmental/divisional and employee level.

What’s more, we would argue that there is a strong moral as well as clear business case to be addressing this issue.

Findings from recent reports have shown that it is evident, mental ill-health is a widespread issue costing UK businesses significant tangible amounts every year.

Statistics highlight the impact

According to the Health and Safety Executive, forty-four per cent of work-related ill health cases were attributed to stress, depression or anxiety, which amounted to

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15.4 million working days lost in 2017/18. The British Safety Council report Not Just Free Fruit, released in 2018, found that “…the most noteworthy and worrying factor is the ongoing rise of mental health issues, including stress, depression, anxiety and other psychological and psychiatric disorders. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports an increase in the proportion of younger workers aged 25 to 34, who attribute their sickness absence to mental health conditions, rising from 7.2% in 2009 to 9.6% in 2017.”

Further evidence as to the impact was provided in the Centre for Mental Health report published in 2017 that estimated the overall cost of not addressing mental health problems to UK employers to almost £35 billion, or £1,300 per employee. For a business considering their bottom line, regardless of size, this can quickly add up.

Where do we start to help?

There are practical ways in which employers can help colleagues within the working environment. A starting point is that workers need to acknowledge and look after their

No one else does it own mental health. Increasing awareness and understanding is a key first step in a journey towards a culture of prevention. Importantly running alongside this is the sense too that managers should not be fearful of broaching the subject. If the culture is to change in a workplace, managers need much more information and guidance on how to spot the signs of illness. This guidance needs to help them to initiate a conversation with a worker and the tools to continue the conversation in an appropriate way moving forward.

Can we just stick a poster up?

We can all make a difference

It’s tragic enough that someone may have reached that point that they take their life. Looking at the faces in the room at the AGM, it was evident again for me as to what is being done is so important, and there is a role for everyone across the industry to do their part – whether to prevent the repeat of an experience for someone they are working with, or as a legacy of someone they once knew.

Welcome To New Scaffolding Association Members

Scaffold Erection

All Access Scaffolding Limited www.all-access.co.uk

ASC Scaffolding Limited www.ascscaffolding.com

Barclay Scaffolding Limited 01268 559353

Castle Scaffolding (Northern) Limited www.castlescaffold.co.uk

Crest Scaffolding Services Limited www.crestscaffolding servicesltd.co.uk

Gold Scaffolding Limited 07508 008776

Gorilla Access Services Limited www.gorillaaccess.co.uk

Hailsham Scaffolding Limited www.hailshamscaffolding.co.uk

Kingsley Scaffolding Limited www.kingsleygroup.co.uk

Martin Scaffolding & Netting Services www.martinscaffolding services.co.uk

Multi Access Scaffolding Limited 01226 934431

Norfolk and Suffolk Scaffolding Limited www.norfolkandsuffolk scaffoldingltd.co.uk

Northville Scaffolding Limited www.northvillescaffolding.co.uk

Omega Scaffolding Services Limited www.omegascaffolding.co.uk

Skyline Access Scaffolding Limited www.skylineaccessscaffolding.co.uk

SWC Scaffolds Limited www.swcscaffolds.co.uk

Thurrock Scaffolding Services Limited www.thurrockscaffolding.com

Service Providers

Brisko Metal Resources www.brisko.co.uk

Caspian Group Limited www.caspiangroup.co.uk

Highland Temporary Works Limited www.htwdesign.co.uk

Northover Trucks 01258 472619

Raprig Design Limited www.raprig.co.uk

Calendar Of Events

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JPS Scaffolding help with memorial restorations

JPS Scaffolding erected a full scaffold with supports at the top to the Pilgrim Father’s Memorial, at the shoreline of Mayflower Park and Southampton’s historic walls. The memorial was built in 1913, to mark and honour the departure of The Mayflower and Speedwell, which departed from Southampton Quay in 1620, heading for the Americas. The restoration and repairs are being undertaken in readiness for the 400th anniversary of their sailings.

2020 Legal Events for Scaffolding Contractors

Following the success of the 2019 Contract Law Seminars, Birketts LLP and the Scaffolding Association will be continuing with their series of legal events throughout 2020.

Talking about the partnership Stacey Underhill, Head of External Affairs at the Scaffolding Association, said “We know that getting paid and resolving contractual issues are the biggest problems scaffolding contractors face, so we are really pleased to be able to continue offering them support and guidance in these areas with the team at Birketts LLP.”

The workshops, which are open to ALL scaffolding contractors operating within the sector, will be looking at a range of topics, including:

• Behind your contract and how to operate it

• Payment and dispute management

• Risk, regulations and licensing

The first round of events were well received with attendee Chris MaxwellSmith, Estimating Manager at Wellmax Scaffolding said: “We all gained something that could improve our day-to-day dealings with financial issues and non-payment.”

The next event is being held on 27th February in Central London. For more information or to book your place, contact sally@scaffolding-association.org

Great care was taken by JPS Scaffolding, in close conjunction with the monuments team at Southampton City Council, to design and install the scaffold so all areas could be accessed and no damage caused to this beautiful monument.

FIND OUT MORE jps-scaffolding.co.uk

ABscaff Complete Scaffolding achieve triple ISO compliance success

By achieving ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications, North Yorkshire based ABscaff Complete Scaffolding, a Scaffolding Association Audited Member, are confidently able to demonstrate to customers and suppliers that the systems they have in place meet the high standards set out by the British Standards Institute.

Andrew Best, Managing Director, said: “By achieving these benchmarks we can stand out from the crowd, demonstrate our capabilities and continually strive for perfection in our sector.”

ABscaff Complete Scaffolding are committed to the three standards and are also in process of gaining a fourth –ISO 27001, hopefully by the end of 2019 – to build upon a highly successful and profitable year.

FIND OUT MORE www.abscaffselby.com