Construction Apprentices Research Articles

Exploring the mental health of Australian construction apprentices: a dual-continuum approach

Purpose This study aims to use the dual-continuum model of mental health to explore mental health in Australian construction apprentices from the perspective of key stakeholders in the apprenticeship model. In particular, this study explored how construction apprentices, Vocational Education and Training (VET) teachers, industry employers and mental health workers understood the construct of mental health, factors associated with the dimension of psychological distress/symptoms of mental illness, and factors associated with the dimension of mental wellbeing. Design/methodology/approach This study used an exploratory qualitative research design. Data from 36 semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Participants comprised 19 Australian construction apprentices, 5 VET teachers, 7 industry employers and 5 mental health workers. Findings In total, 14 themes were generated from the data set. Participants across stakeholder groups reported a limited understanding about mental health. Participants cited a range of negative personal, workplace and industry factors associated with psychological distress/symptoms of mental illness, but only reported a few factors associated with mental wellbeing. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to use the dual-continuum model of mental health to explore the mental health of Australian construction apprentices, and to explore the factors associated with both dimensions of this model from the perspective of key stakeholders in the Australian construction apprenticeship model.

Supportive communication between apprentices and supervisors: development of a digital role play game

PurposeThis paper describes the development of a digital role play game (RPG) designed to help construction apprentices to better communicate with their supervisors about issues with the potential to impact on their physical and psychological health and safety.Design/methodology/approachA participatory approach was adopted to utilise the knowledge and insights of the target users to inform the digital RPG development. Apprentices and supervisors were interviewed to identify characteristics of effective supervisor-apprentice communication, which became the RPG’s learning objectives. The scenarios constructed in the RPG were drawn from lived experiences shared by the apprentices in the interviews. During the development process, consultations were conducted with an advisory committee comprising of apprentices and supervisors to improve the realism of the RPG scenarios.FindingsThree scenarios were developed for the RPG. In each scenario, players are asked to make decisions at various interaction points about how the characters should respond to the unfolding and challenging situations. Scripts were developed for the game, which were acted out and motion captured to animate digital MetaHuman characters embedded in a virtual construction site. Two example situations are introduced in this paper to illustrate the development process.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, the RPG introduced is one of the first applications of digital game-based training in the construction industry. The adoption of a participatory design approach ensures that the game content relates to real-world experiences. The digital RPG is highly interactive and engaging in nature and presents a novel approach to developing “soft” skills in construction.

Does Being Kind, Warm and Accepting Towards Yourself Affect Your Well-Being? A Study of Construction Apprentices in New Zealand

AbstractIn Australia and New Zealand, young construction workers have high suicide rates that are associated with increased psychological distress. Research so far has focused on risk factors, such as workplace bullying during young workers’ apprenticeship training. However, there is a gap in research on factors associated with fostering psychological well-being and the development of strength-based interventions for the industry. One factor which is related to psychological well-being is self-compassion, the ability to be empathic towards oneself during times of suffering or failure. The present study (N = 252) examined relationships between self-compassion, psychological well-being, psychological distress and exposure to workplace bullying in New Zealand construction apprentices. Results showed that self-compassion was positively and significantly related to psychological well-being and negatively related to psychological distress. Self-compassion also uniquely predicted all of the six dimensions of psychological well-being. Experiences of workplace bullying and psychological distress were substantial, and workplace bullying was positively related to psychological distress. Contrary to our hypothesis, self-compassion did not moderate the association between bullying and psychological distress. Overall, these findings indicate that self-compassion interventions may have promise as a mechanism to improve the well-being of construction apprentices.

Situated Learning: How Interactions with Supervisors Shape Construction Apprentices’ Safety Learning and Practice

Situated Learning: How Interactions with Supervisors Shape Construction Apprentices’ Safety Learning and Practice

Improving the Recruitment and Retention of Construction Apprentices through Oregon’s Highway Construction Workforce Development Program

Oregon’s Highway Construction Workforce Development Program aims to improve the recruitment and retention of a diverse construction workforce, through pre-apprenticeships that provide alternative pathways into apprenticeship as well as financial and non-financial retention services that aim to help apprentices complete their apprenticeships. This evaluation research examines the impact of the Program on recruitment and retention trends, drawing on administrative data from the Program as well as interviews with program participants. We find pre-apprenticeship programs have improved the recruitment of women into the trades. We further find that non-financial services, ready supplies, and childcare services have a positive impact on completion, with receipt of non-financial support having the largest impact on completion. Gas/travel services are positively associated with completion among apprentices of color. Interview data suggest that additional support services for apprentices as well as structural changes to the industry are needed to achieve construction workforce diversity goals.

Suicidal ideation and related factors in construction industry apprentices

Background: Suicide rates within the construction industry are disproportionately high and there is accumulating evidence suggesting that young apprentices working in this industry may be particularly vulnerable. This study examined the presence of suicidal ideation and exposure to suicidal behaviours in construction industry apprentices, and explored associations between suicidal ideation and other demographic, workplace, and psychosocial factors. Methods: A large sample of apprentices were recruited for the study (N = 1402). The study employed a cross-sectional survey design. In addition to demographic items, the survey asked questions relating to suicidal ideation in the past year, exposure to suicidal behaviours, substance use, stress management, workplace bullying, psychological distress, and well-being. Results: Nearly one third of apprentices reported suicidal ideation in the previous year, and approximately half to two-thirds knew someone who had either attempted or died by suicide. Suicidal ideation was associated with knowing someone who had attempted suicide, greater psychological distress, substance use, and poorer well-being. Limitations: The response rate was low. There were also portions of missing data. Multiple imputation was used to help overcome this, and results from the sensitivity analyses are presented. The cross-sectional design is another limitation. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation in construction apprentices is common and is associated with poorer overall mental health and well-being, substance use, and knowing others who have attempted suicide. These findings can help inform the development of tailored workplace suicide prevention activities for apprentices at-risk of suicide and poor mental health.

Work Organization Factors Associated with Health and Work Outcomes among Apprentice Construction Workers: Comparison between the Residential and Commercial Sectors.

There are substantial differences in work organization between residential and commercial construction sectors. This paper examined differences in work factors between construction sectors and examined the association between sector and health behaviors, health outcomes, and work outcomes. We surveyed 929 male construction apprentices (44% residential and 56% commercial) and found that residential apprentices reported fewer workplace safety policies, higher frequency of heavy lifting, and greater likelihood of reporting musculoskeletal pain compared to apprentices in commercial work. Residential apprentices reported higher job strain, lower supervisor support, more lost workdays due to pain or injury, and lower productivity related to health than commercial apprentices. Multivariate Poisson regression models controlling for multiple work factors showed that residential construction work, high job strain, heavy lifting, low coworker support, and low supervisor support were each independently associated with one or more work or health outcomes. These findings suggest that interventions should seek to improve coworker and supervisory supportive behaviors, decrease job strain, and reduce organizational stressors, such as mandatory overtime work. Our study shows disparities in health and safety between construction sectors and highlights the need for interventions tailored to the residential sector.

Designing Occupational Safety and Health Training Materials for Clear Communication.

Printed materials are an essential part of occupational safety and health programs. Public health professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have created a Clear Communication Index (CCI) to guide design of health education materials for the general public. We revised an existing handout on heat exposure hazards in construction using the CCI and tested the old and new versions of the handout with an audience of 425 construction apprentices and journey-level workers. Some features recommended by the CCI-such as the use of subheadings, numbering, and other visual cues-strongly conditioned the readers' understanding of the main message. Design and layout have a significant impact on the delivery of messages in written materials. A communications-based rubric such as the CCI can help writers preparing written occupational safety and health materials for workers and general audiences.

Building Healthy Eating Knowledge and Behavior: An Evaluation of Nutrition Education in a Skill Training Course for Construction Apprentices.

Background: Prior research has found poor health among construction workers is related to poor nutrition and low fruit and vegetable consumption. Promoting nutrition knowledge can improve dietary behaviors, but nutrition education among construction workers is limited. We evaluated the effectiveness of nutrition education on fruit and vegetable consumption among construction apprentices. In this pilot evaluative study, 36 construction apprentices enrolled in skill training programs received two 1.5-hour nutrition classes. Twelve questions addressing healthy eating knowledge and behavior were administered at baseline, after intervention, and at three months follow-up. After intervention, daily fruit consumption improved from baseline (mean (s.d.) =1.42 (0.55)) to post intervention (mean (s.d.) =1.72 (0.70)) (p < 0.05) and to three months follow-up (mean(s.d.) =1.94 (0.83)) (p > 0.05). After intervention, daily vegetable consumption improved from baseline (mean (s.d.) =1.67 (0.59)) to post intervention (mean (s.d.) =1.97 (0.74)) (p < 0.05) and to three months follow-up (mean (s.d.) = 2.19 (0.82)) (p > 0.05). Younger construction apprentices showed better healthy eating knowledge at post intervention and three months follow-up (p > 0.05). Working in normal hours showed better healthy eating knowledge at post intervention but not at three months follow up (p > 0.05). Both age groups and working hours did not show significant differences on healthy eating behaviour. Nutrition education implemented as a three-hour session within skill courses may possibly promote fruit and vegetable consumption among construction apprentices. Further research with control group is required to support the findings in this study.

Influence of work organization and work environment on missed work, productivity, and use of pain medications among construction apprentices.

Construction is among the most dangerous industries. In addition to traditional hazards for workplace injury and illness, other threats to health and well-being may occur from work organization and work environment factors, including irregular employment, long commutes, long work hours, and employer policies regarding health and safety. These nontraditional hazards may affect work and health outcomes directly, or through effects on health behaviors. The cumulative impacts of both traditional and nontraditional hazards on health-related outcomes among construction workers are largely unknown. We conducted a survey among apprentice construction workers to identify relationships between work organization and environmental factors with five outcomes of economic relevance to employers: missed work due to work-related injury, missed work due to any pain or injury, self-reported workability, health-related productivity, and use of prescription medications for pain. A total of 963 surveys were completed (response rate 90%) in this young (mean age 28) working cohort. Multivariate Poisson regression models found associations between the outcomes of interest and multiple work factors, including job strain, safety behaviors of coworkers, and mandatory overtime. Univariate analysis showed additional associations, including precarious work, and supervisor support for safety. Findings from this cross-sectional study suggest that work organization and environment factors influence health and work outcomes among young construction trade workers. Future work with longitudinal data will examine the hypothesized paths between work factors, health behaviors, health outcomes, and work outcomes.

A model for developing competent and self-directed tradespeople

ABSTRACTRecent research has linked the development of self-directed learning of building and construction apprentices to the quality of relationship between the apprentice and their sponsor. This relationship was found to be critical for the apprentice to develop the capacity for self-directed learning. The sponsor as a more confident or experienced other possessed both a personal and professional interest in the development of the apprentice and used their influence to create a safe learning environment within the workplace. A literature review positions self-directed learning in the context of this research and within the methodology of constructivist grounded theory. This paper discusses the importance of sponsorship to the development of self-direction and concludes with offering some suggestions about how the learning environment within the workplace may be augmented to facilitate the development of self-direction. The role and the obligations of the apprentice’s sponsor are also considered in detail.

Building a Healthier Workforce: An Evaluation of an Online Nutrition Training for Apprentices

ObjectiveConstruction workers face barriers to healthy eating, including work organization and environmental factors, that can affect productivity and lead to chronic conditions. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online nutrition training to improve knowledge and behaviors and evaluate the feasibility of conducting this training among apprentices in the highway construction trades. MethodsA pretest-posttest control group design was used. The intervention was conducted using a Web-based electronic learning platform. ResultsA total of 36 highway construction apprentices (78% male) completed the study. Intervention participants demonstrated improvements in knowledge immediately after the training, reported modest weight loss, decreased body mass index, and decreased fast food consumption compared with control participants. However, increases in knowledge were not seen at follow-up. The training content and format were well-received, indicating that electronic learning approaches were acceptable for this population. Conclusions and ImplicationsThis project established the acceptability of using an online nutrition training to promote health among apprentices.

Safety voice for ergonomics (SAVE) project: protocol for a workplace cluster-randomized controlled trial to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in masonry apprentices.

BackgroundMasons have the highest rate of overexertion injuries among all construction trades and rank second for occupational back injuries in the United States. Identified ergonomic solutions are the primary method of reducing exposure to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. However, many construction workers lack knowledge about these solutions, as well as basic ergonomic principles. Construction apprentices, as they embark on their careers, are greatly in need of ergonomics training to minimize the cumulative exposure that leads to musculoskeletal disorders. Apprentices receive safety training; however, ergonomics training is often limited or non-existent. In addition, apprenticeship programs often lack “soft skills” training on how to appropriately respond to work environments and practices that are unsafe. The SAVE program – SAfety Voice for Ergonomics – strives to integrate evidence-based health and safety training strategies into masonry apprenticeship skills training to teach ergonomics, problem solving, and speaking up to communicate solutions that reduce musculoskeletal injury risk. The central hypothesis is that the combination of ergonomics training and safety voice promotion will be more effective than no training or either ergonomics training alone or safety voice training alone.Methods/designFollowing the development and pilot testing of the SAVE intervention, SAVE will be evaluated in a cluster-randomized controlled trial at 12 masonry training centers across the U.S. Clusters of apprentices within centers will be assigned at random to one of four intervention groups (n = 24 per group): (1) ergonomics training only, (2) safety voice training only, (3) combined ergonomics and safety voice training, or (4) control group with no additional training intervention. Outcomes assessed at baseline, at the conclusion of training, and then at six and 12 months post training will include: musculoskeletal symptoms, general health perceptions, knowledge of ergonomic and safety voice principles, and perception and attitudes about ergonomic and safety voice issues.DiscussionMasons continue to have a high rate of musculoskeletal disorders. The trade has an expected increase of 40 % in the number of workers by 2020. Therefore, a vetted intervention for apprentices entering the trade, such as SAVE, could reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders currently plaguing the trade.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02676635, 2 February 2016

Do insulation products of man-made vitreous fibres still cause skin discomfort?

BackgroundMan-made vitreous fibres (MMVFs) are used in products for insulation and as reinforcement in materials. Contamination of the skin may arise through direct or indirect contact, and from the deposition of airborne fibres. The scientific basis regarding the effects on skin of MMVFs dates from 1970–1980.ObjectivesTo investigate whether currently used insulation MMVF products still cause skin discomfort.MethodsFocus group interviews and structured interviews were performed among workers engaged in insulation tasks and among do-it-yourself consumers with a recent experience of MMVF products.ResultsA majority of interviewees experienced skin discomfort when handling MMVF products. Complaints caused by traditional (yellow) glass fibre products were more severe than those caused by products of rock or slag wool fibres. The wrists, forearms, neck and face were the locations where the skin was most affected. The situations causing problems varied between occupational tasks, but working with the hands over the head or in narrow spaces were described as the worst situations. Building construction apprentices performed insulation tasks more often than senior workers.ConclusionsMMVF insulation products do still cause skin discomfort. Updated knowledge about people’s experiences of work with such products should influence legislation.

Do Comorbid Ulnar Symptoms or Ulnar Neuropathy Affect the Prognosis of Workers With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

To the Editor, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common and costly disease among working-aged adults, and a leading cause of work-related disability, 1 affected almost 5 million U.S. workers, with prevalence estimated between 3.1% and 7.8%.2 While prognosis following surgery has been described,3,4 many questions exist about predictors of CTS prognosis in working populations.5 The presence of ulnar symptoms or neuropathy have been considered predictive of a poor outcome in CTS cases. We aimed to describe three-year evolution of CTS with and without ulnar symptoms in a large cohort of worker. This study presents data collected prospectively on 1107 newly hired workers in the US, recruited from participating companies recruited from eight employers and three trade unions, representing manufacturing, construction, biotechnology, and healthcare, between July 2004 and October 20066 and followed for three years (n=888). Subjects came from three main occupational groups: construction apprentices, office and laboratory workers and service workers/housekeepers.6 At baseline, subjects answered questions about the presence of hand pain in the past year (occurring 3 times or lasting at least one week), and the nature and location of symptoms. Bilateral nerve conduction studies were performed for median and ulnar nerves at the wrist using the NC-Stat automated nerve conduction testing device (NEUROMetrix, Inc., Waltham, MA). The NC-Stat device followed an automated testing protocol to measure median and ulnar distal motor latencies (wrist-thenar eminence and wrist-hypothenar eminence) and distal sensory latencies (wrist-third finger and wrist-fifth finger.7 Abnormal median nerve conduction was defined as sensory latency >3.5 ms (14 cm) OR motor latency >4.5 ms OR median-ulnar sensory latency difference (MUDS) of > 0.5 ms (14 cm). For ulnar nerve, we used sensory OR motor latency above the 95th percentile. Subjects were categorized according to baseline data into mutually exclusive groups (see table 1). Workers with symptoms of CTS with and without fifth finger involvement were also described, including those with confirmed CTS and confirmed ulnar syndrome (symptoms AND abnormal nerve studies)4. Table 1 Description of outcomes at follow up (severe Hand pain, functional status limitation on Levine scale and job limitation) among subjetcts categoreized at baseline on clinical status and nerve conduction status. Three outcomes were used at follow-up: “severe hand pain”, defined as hand pain within the past 30 days with a rating of 5 or higher on a scale of 0 (no discomfort) to10 (worst discomfort imaginable); “functional status limitations” assessed via the Levine Functional Status Scale; and “job limitation”, a dichotomous composite outcome that included all workers who reported a limitation attributed to hand symptoms in one or more of the following areas: 1) limited ability to work, 2) decreased productivity, 3) lost time from work, 4) placed on job restrictions, and a 5) change in job or employer. Among the 888 workers followed, baseline mean age was 30.3 years (range 18-66 years,) and 63.9% were men.. CTS prevalence and incidence was similar to that reported in other worker populations.11–13 From table 1, ulnar neuropathy at the wrist was associated with CTS in only 4 of the 21 CTS cases at follow-up. These workers had a slightly higher proportion of severe hand pain but similar limitations. Over half of the subjects with symptoms of CTS had symptoms in the fifth finger (n=45/79), without differences on the other outcomes, and only one worker had a confirmed CTS and ulnar syndrome. Our study was limited by the small number of cases, and by use of the NC-Stat automated nerve testing device7, which limited our testing of ulnar neuropathy to the wrist. Nonetheless, our findings provide an interesting perspective. In clinical settings, some case reports suggest that associated median and ulnar neuropathies affect prognosis after nerve release.3,8–10 However, our results are consistent with a recent study of ulnar neuropathy at the elbow; while 60.5% of subjects had persistent symptoms at follow-up, there were no differences in disability and symptom severity seen among the 5% of patients with ulnar neuropathy who had comorbid CTS.14 Ulnar neuropathy is relatively understudied, and future research is needed from large prospective studies to determine the prognosis, management, and prevention of ulnar neuropathies from entrapment at the wrist or elbow.

Workplace bullying: the experiences of building and construction apprentices

This paper examines the workplace bullying experiences of building and construction apprentices. The aims of the paper are to learn about the types of behaviours to which building and construction apprentices are subjected and to examine the reasons why a significant proportion of them neither confront the perpetrator of the behaviour nor report the behaviour, either within the organisation or externally. Individual semi-structured interviews were used. The results indicate that the apprentices were subjected to a wide range of negative behaviours. There were several reasons for them neither confronting the perpetrator nor reporting the bullying, including fear of job loss and financial impact.

Contractor-, steward-, and coworker-safety practice: associations with musculoskeletal pain and injury-related absence among construction apprentices

This paper sought to assess organizational safety practices at three different levels of hierarchical workplace structure and to examine their association with injury outcomes among construction apprentices. Using a cross-sectional sample of 1,775 construction apprentices, three measures of organizational safety practice were assessed: contractor-, steward-, and coworker-safety practice. Each safety practice measure was assessed using three similar questions (i.e., on-the-job safety commitment, following required or recommended safe work practices, and correcting unsafe work practices); the summed average of the responses ranged from 1 to 4, with a higher score indicating poorer safety practice. Outcome variables included the prevalence of four types of musculoskeletal pain (i.e., neck, shoulder, hand, and back pain) and injury-related absence. In adjusted analyses, contractor-safety practice was associated with both hand pain (OR: 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.04, 1.54) and back pain (OR: 1.40, 95 % CI: 1.17, 1.68); coworker-safety practice was related to back pain (OR: 1.42, 95 % CI: 1.18, 1.71) and injury-related absence (OR: 1.36, 95 % CI: 1.11, 1.67). In an analysis that included all three safety practice measures simultaneously, the association between coworker-safety practice and injury-related absence remained significant (OR: 1.68, 95 % CI: 1.20, 2.37), whereas all other associations became non-significant. This study suggests that organizational safety practice, particularly coworker-safety practice, is associated with injury outcomes among construction apprentices.

10-Year prospective study of noise exposure and hearing damage among construction workers

ObjectivesTo characterise the effects of noise exposure, including intermittent and peaky exposure, on hearing damage as assessed by standard pure-tone thresholds and otoacoustic emissions, a longitudinal study was conducted on...

Association between perceived union connection and upper body musculoskeletal pains among unionized construction apprentices

Several studies show varying associations between unionization and workers' health and well-being. This study investigated the association between individual worker's perceived union connection and musculoskeletal pains (MSPs). We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1,757 unionized construction apprentices. Perceived union connection is a psychosocial scale measured by six questions that assessed individual worker's connection to their union (range 10-24) at unionized workplaces. We measured the prevalence of four MSPs (neck, shoulder, arm, and back pain) and difficulty in daily home activities, job activities, and sleeping caused by each of the four MSPs. We found that a one score increase in perceived union connection was associated with 5% decreased odds of reporting neck pain (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91-1.00) and back pain (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91-0.99) after adjusting for confounders including self-reported ergonomic strain. We also found significant associations between perceived union connection and MSPs causing difficulty in daily activities. For a one score increase in perceived union connection, the odds of reporting back pain causing difficulty in home activities, job activities, and sleeping was 9% (95% CI: 0.87-0.96), 8% (95% CI: 0.88-0.96), and 7% (95% CI: 0.89-0.98) lower, respectively. Although our findings are limited by the cross-sectional nature of the data, these results suggest that workers' perceived union connection can vary even within unionized workplaces, and it may be associated with the prevalence of MSPs and MSPs causing difficulty in daily activities.

A longitudinal analysis of the effects of a preventive exercise programme on the factors that predict shoulder pain in construction apprentices

Construction apprentices are at risk for developing shoulder pain with increasing exposure to repetitive overhead work. Risk may decrease if shoulder biomechanics are optimised and if risk factors that contribute to shoulder pain onset are identified. This prospective cohort study examined demographic and work-related factors and shoulder pain onset over 2 years in a cohort of 240 construction apprentices. Approximately 50% of the sample (n = 117) performed a home exercise programme intended to have a protective effect, while the other 50% served as controls. The proportion of new-onset shoulder pain in the control group was higher than in the exercise group. Regression analysis identified four factors related to new-onset shoulder pain: previous neck pain; working in hot, cold or humid conditions; subject height; and bending and twisting the back. This information may assist employers and workers in preventing shoulder pain. By knowing factors predictive of shoulder pain development in construction workers, employers can take measures to protect workers and may secondarily decrease medical expenses and maintain productivity. Previous neck pain, working in extreme environmental conditions and being shorter all increased a worker's risk of developing shoulder pain. Exercises to optimise shoulder biomechanics have a small effect on preventing shoulder pain development.