Workstress in the Construction Industry: Causes and Measures

Introduction

In the Dutch construction industry over half of the employees experience considerable pressure of work, and they think that measures should be taken either to prevent high work pressure or reduce it. Employers also admit that work pressure is sometimes high. One quarter of the employers taking part in a Dutch monitoring study (1995) on stress and physical workload admitted that work pressure is indeed high. However, only 3% of the employers say that this causes serious problems. In this paper results will be presented of recent research on trends in complaints of workstress of construction workers in the past decade. Furthermore results will be presented on the nature and number of measures implemented at 20 construction companies.

Methods and Results
Quantative monitoring study of work stress complaints
Per year about 35,000 construction workers have a voluntary medical check up. They fill in a validated questionnaire concerning their health status and their perceived working conditions. The two-years periods 1993/1994, 1995/1996 and 1997/1998 will be compaired on the aspects of workstress.
Qualitative study on feasible measures
With a semi-structured interview employers and employees at 20 construction companies are questioned about feasible measures to reduce the workstress. A distinction is made on measures at an individual level and group level

Discussion
Nowadays construction companies start more and more to experiment with different ways of work organisation. But still too little attention has been paid to experiments on implementation of technical and organisational solutions. More projects at company level (aimed at reducing workstress) will be needed to gain more insight into effective solutions aimed at reducing complaints about workstress.

References
1. Koningsveld, E.A.P., and Molen, H.F. van der. History and future of ergonomics in building     and construction. Ergonomics, vol 40, no 10, 1997, 1025-1034.

2. Arbouw. Work stress in the construction industry. ODAM conference, The Haque, August     1998

2a Molen, H.F. van der, Hoonakker, P.L.T. and Duivenbooden, J.C. van. Work stress in the      Dutch construction industry: causes and consequences

2b Hoonakker, P.L.T., Dierendonck, D. van, Molen, H.F. van der, and Ginkel, A. van. The      relation between experienced workload, working conditions, health and absenteeism in      construction industry.

2c Duivenbooden, J.C. van, Molen, H.F. van der, Broersen, J.P.J. and Rovekamp, A.J.M.     Work related stress in the construction industry.

2d Houtman, I.L.D., Hoogendoorn, W.E. and Zuidhof, A.J. Work stress, strain and measures      taken as reported by employers and employees in the construction industry.

2E Nijhuis, F.J.N., Janssen, P. and de Jong, A. Stress reduction at the workplace: a      participatory approach.