The British Standard on suicide, BS 30480, and the workplace for small construction businesses has been adapted in the guidance, titled Looking out for each other: A practical guide to talking about suicide for people in construction.

The guidance is made to help firms ensure support is available within the constraints of limited HR support and few formal processes within many firms. 

The pack has been formed with organisations from across the sector, such as The B1M, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), The Supply Chain Sustainability School, Mace, Mates in Mind and the City of London Corporation.

Construction workers can face a combination of pressures, as recognised in the guide. Long hours, financial uncertainty and job insecurity, as well as working away from home, injury, isolation and periods between jobs are among the pressures. 

Teams often come together for one project, and the culture around asking for help can present challenges for people to speak up. According to research from the CIOB, 28% of people working in the sector had experienced suicidal thoughts at least once in the past year.

The guide is written for anyone in the sector, whether it be a business owner, site manager, employee, subcontractor, or someone who is self-employed. 

The guide lays out four simple steps for anyone worried about a colleague: Notice the signs, ask directly, listen, and connect them with support.

The resource pack also covers what to do when there is an absence of obvious signs, which phrases help and which to avoid, and how to support colleagues after a suicide or serious attempt. 

Site managers and business owners receive extra guidance on planning for a crisis, as well as five actions they can take without an HR function or a big budget for wellbeing. 

A toolbox talk and an on-site action sheet also form part of the pack. The action sheet is made for site cabins, welfare units and work vehicles, and has a QR code which links to the full guide. 

Anne Hayes, director of sectors at BSI, said: “Construction depends on people working closely together, often across different companies and for as long as a particular job lasts. 

“Many smaller firms also don’t have HR teams to fall back on.”

Hayes added: “This guide takes the principles of BS 30480 and turns them into plain, practical advice, so that anyone on site, whatever their role, can recognise when someone is struggling and feel confident starting a conversation.”