By Sarah Butcher, Commercial Manager at Welfare Hire Nationwide
As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May 2025), I’m eager to highlight a troubling reality in our industry: construction workers are six times more likely to die from mental health issues than from falling on site. These shocking industry figures cannot be ignored.
The alarming scale of mental health issues in the building trade is undeniable, with more than half of UK builders admitting they struggled with problems last year.
The stats make for grim reading. A staggering 82% of construction workers experienced mental health problems due to work-related stress, while a worrying 73% battle psychological issues every single month.
Most concerning of all? Suicide rates in construction outstrip any other UK industry, with men in the sector three times more likely to take their own lives than those in other jobs.
A crisis reaching breaking point
The fast-paced, high pressure environment of construction and rail sites, with their demanding deadlines, long hours and physically gruelling work, creates the perfect storm for mental health struggles.
A 2021 Rail Safety and Standards Board survey found that over 40% of rail workers were suffering from mental health conditions, significantly impacting company costs, performance and safety records.
But amid the crisis, at Welfare Hire we have identified an unexpected factor that could help: the humble site welfare unit.
Creating essential wellbeing spaces
Traditional site facilities often amount to little more than basic metal boxes, with limited comfort or space for workers to properly unwind.
I firmly believe that transforming these spaces could make a genuine difference to workers’ wellbeing.
When we consider that one in eight UK adults have experienced suicidal thoughts due to feelings of loneliness, it becomes clear why quality on-site facilities matter.
Good welfare units are more than just shelters. They create a community space where workers can connect, share experiences and support each other.
Innovative facilities designed for mental wellbeing
At Welfare Hire, we’ve developed two specialist units designed with mental health in mind.
Our ECOXi welfare unit features room for up to 10 people with separate canteen, office, drying room and toilet facilities, creating a genuine sanctuary where workers can take meaningful breaks.
With space for up to 10 people and equipped with a separate canteen, office, drying room & WC, this is a welfare unit designed with comfort and space in mind, providing room for better conversations.
Meanwhile, our ECOWC2 units offer two separate water-flush toilets with enhanced privacy, hot water washbasins with anti-frost protection, and renewable energy systems that eliminate the constant background noise of generators.
XL water-flush ceramic toilets and spacious changing cubicles provide workers a warm, comfortable space to change and refresh, making them better equipped, physically and mentally, to handle the day-to-day challenges of working onsite.
Boosting performance while saving lives
Prioritising mental wellbeing isn’t just good for workers. It makes business sense too.
Staff who aren’t battling anxiety, fatigue or depression make better decisions, follow safety protocols more consistently, and get the job done more efficiently, directly impacting project timelines and budgets.
With traditional welfare facilities often poorly maintained and unsuitable for proper rest, I’m encouraged to see the industry increasingly recognising that creating better on-site environments could be key to addressing the sector’s troubling mental health statistics.
For more information about Welfare Hire’s eco-friendly welfare facilities, visit www.kellinggroup.com/welfare-hire/
