How Construction Companies Can Reduce Artisans' Stress Levels

Occupational stress is inevitable, especially in the construction industry where physically demanding duties are required in order to complete projects. Although employees at all levels of the construction sector endure occupational stress, artisans who are at the frontline of project execution face the most of it. For a long time, the construction industry has overlooked the stress experienced by artisans, frequently believing that nothing can be done since "it is part of the job." Many of these artisans have resorted to undesirable habits such as excessive alcohol use, smoking, and drug usage in order to cope with stress. This has had a detrimental impact on their attitude, interpersonal relationships, and productivity.  The industry has a role to play in helping to regulate the stress level of artisans by putting the following measures in place.

Increased wages

Artisans play an important part in construction projects but often have nothing to show for it. They toil away in tough conditions for little pay. With the ever-shrinking economy, the cost of living has risen dramatically, making it more difficult for them to feed their families and pay their expenses with their small salaries. As a result, they are always worried about how they will pay their expenses and are taking on extra jobs to make ends meet. With their wages increased these artisans will be in a better position to take care of their financial obligations.

Training and professional assistance

During the interview segment of Wahab A.B's study,  artisans stated that they did not always have the necessary expertise to execute the tasks allocated to them successfully. As a result, they are frequently put under pressure when asked to do anything outside of their area of competence. These artisans, like any other vocation, require training and expert support to perform their duties properly. Aside from technical training, these artisans should also be equipped with the required soft skills to increase their level of professionalism It is therefore it’s important for construction companies to invest in both technical and soft skills training of artisans.

Effective communication

Poor communication often contributes to stress levels for artisans. In an attempt to communicate with artisans, supervisors frequently raise their voices and use abusive language. As a result, many of these artisans are afraid to communicate their difficulties, which leads to numerous errors on the job, accidents, and project delays in the long run. When communication is simple and clear it aids understanding and leads to less confusion on the part of the artisans. Supervisors can be trained to improve their communication style.

More recess and time-off

In a bid to meet up with short time frames, artisans often work for long hours at a  stretch without breaks. As a result,  they are disposed to developing health issues over time. Mandatory on-site breaks and days off would help artisans manage their stress levels better.

Providing safety equipment

Many craftsmen are exposed to numerous risks on building sites due to the nature of their occupations and the lack of adequate protective gear. Construction companies need to work on providing these artisans with the necessary safety equipment and make it obligatory that they utilize the gear on-site to avoid accidents and catastrophic injuries.

By taking the steps listed above, construction companies can not only improve the health and well-being of their workers but also increase productivity and attract more people to the industry. This can have a positive impact on the construction industry as a whole, and the economy by extension.

References

Wahab, A. (2010). Stress Management among Artisans in Construction Industry in Nigeria. Global Journal of Researches in Engineering, 10, 90702-091402. https://globaljournals.org/GJRE_Volume10/gjre_vol10_issue1_ver1__paper19.pdf