Construction workers are used to early morning and late nights, but irregular shifts can lead to long-term health consequences. The adverse health effects of irregular, inconsistent, or long work shifts include increased stress, poor sleep, bad eating habits, and an increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and depression.
What is an irregular work schedule or shift?
In this context, an irregular work schedule refers to workers who do not have a set workweek schedule. Unlike office jobs, which may be a 9-5, jobs with shift work or irregular hours may have varying start and finish times in any given week.
Working all night shifts for months may also be considered an irregular work schedule since it disrupts natural sleep patterns, affecting day-to-day functioning and disease risk.
In construction, where many small sole-owner companies thrive, having an inconsistent work schedule is often par for the course. Many contractors lack solid organization skills and fly by the seat of their pants, working as hard and as long as needed if the occasion arises. That could mean working multiple back-to-back 14-hour days one week and less than full-time hours the next. Those long hours and the inconsistency of the work provided set the stage for long-term health consequences.
The commonality of irregular work schedules in the U.S.
Whether a worker is employed in the retail industry, hospitality, transportation/delivery, warehousing, or construction, irregular work hours are common. Even large companies like Amazon have a business model that relies heavily upon part-time warehouse workers who don’t know their work schedules from week to week. For workers, this can be incredibly stressful and is part of the reason for higher employee turnover rates. Most people don’t enjoy the stress or fatigue of the job.
“Many American workers spend over 40 hours a week at work, and almost 15 million work full time on evening, night, rotating or other irregular shifts. Work schedules like these may cause worker fatigue,” the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cautions. “Long work hours may increase the risk of injuries and accidents and contribute to poor health and worker fatigue. Studies show that long work hours can result in increased stress levels, poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, and illness. It is important to recognize the symptoms of worker fatigue and its potential impact on each worker’s safety and health and on the safety of co-workers.”
How irregular work schedules damage health
Stress has one of the most significant and detrimental impacts on overall health and quality of life. An uncertain work schedule, both in terms of shift length and hours, can rapidly increase stress levels, which ultimately impacts several functions in the body, including sleep. When workers don’t sleep well, it affects their lucidity and physical ability to perform tasks at work.
Dog-tired, stress-out workers laboring on a construction site can be a safety liability. For employers, this is important—every time they ask their workers to pick up an extra shift or work overtime, they might be laying the groundwork for an accident.
Chronic poor sleep increases the risk of developing dementia, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It may even be a contributing factor leading to cancers of the breast, colon, ovaries, and prostate, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Apart from chronic diseases, irregular work hours also lead to things like fatigue, depression, and other psychological problems like despair, disruption of social interactions, financial instability, stress, and more. These various effects compound upon themselves.
Fatigue resulting from hard labor, plus long and/or inconsistent hours, can be debilitating. Coupled with lack of sleep and poor diet, fatigue could lead to physical injuries due to heightened stress levels, lack of awareness and focus, and poor productivity.
Combatting fatigue with awareness and smart scheduling
A solid and consistent work schedule is crucial to long-term health, but it’s not always possible in an industry like construction.
Employers must recognize the importance of developing regular work schedules for employees. This may ultimately yield greater productivity from employees who are less stressed, well-rested, and happier. It could even lead to fewer workplace accidents.
Breaks and rest periods are another area where employers and managers can support their workers and improve worksite safety, especially in hot climates.
Nonstandard scheduling for employees is relatively mainstream in the trades, but employers must do their best to avoid it for the health and safety of workers. Regular work schedules—adhering to specific start and end times—can ensure employees have a balance between work and life and avoid burnout.
“In workplace settings, fatigue is commonly associated with nonstandard schedules which disrupt or shorten sleep,” advises the Centers for Disease Control. “Employers and workers should work together to reduce fatigue risks and manage fatigue.”
In the end, an overworked and tired employee is more likely to be involved in accidents, which can have detrimental effects on a company’s bottom line.
Organize and plan doable, regular work schedules—and stick to them.
Construction is a sector filled with givers. Nonprofits focused on construction help veterans, underprivileged individuals, diverse communities, and others in need through various social services, including financial assistance and worker training. While many are aware of the international nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, smaller organizations like Construction Angels, Building Up, Helmets to Hardhats, and CIASP are also significantly impacting their communities.
8 charities lending a hand to the construction sector
1. Construction Angels
Construction Angels, Inc. offers financial assistance and grief counseling to children 19 years and younger and spouses left behind after a construction worker is involved in a work-related fatality. The organization also provides construction scholarship opportunities to qualified applicants and additional scholarships to surviving children of fallen workers.
Construction Angels provides $8,000 to the spouse and/or children, $3,000 in Angel Support (if the worker does not have a spouse/children), and up to $1,000 in grief counseling services to the family and/or company employees. The group offers scholarships for children who have lost a parent in a construction fatality, for children seeking a construction education, and for educational organizations in the industry that need support.
2. BUILD
Building Urban Industries for Local Development (BUILD) is an Indigenous non-profit contractor and training program for people facing barriers to employment. Their mission is simple: BUILD hires, trains, empowers, and launches individuals facing barriers into long, meaningful careers.
The group strives to create prosperous communities by providing apartment turnover maintenance and renovations for landlords while employing local people. The group says its efforts reduce crime and help train a new generation of workers in the construction industry.
3. Building UP
Building UP uses construction to tackle multiple community issues simultaneously. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, it is a non-profit social enterprise improving Toronto’s environmental efficiency and affordable housing stock to help people experiencing employment barriers develop the necessary skills to achieve a successful trade career.
By offering training and support to help workers pursue an upward trajectory in employment, this group provides opportunities for marginalized groups and provides the sector with a steady stream of eager, qualified workers.
4. EMBERS
EMBERS creates economic and employment opportunities for people by providing them with support, training, and jobs. Its Vancouver Downtown Eastside outreach program provides construction training and connects workers with jobs.
EMBERS employs thousands of individuals from diverse backgrounds, offering short- and long-term employment. The organization’s profits are invested back into the community through worker support programs, higher hourly wages, free tool and equipment rentals, and access to certified skills training opportunities.
The organization is backed by some of Canada’s major contractors, including PCL, EllisDon, ITC Construction Group, and Chandos.
5. Helmets to Hardhats
Helmets to Hardhats eases the transition from military to civilian life by offering career opportunities within Canada’s Building Trade Unions to military-affiliated community members. By connecting veterans to careers with the best industry wages, the group gives those who’ve served a leg up into civilian life.
Recognized as a leading service provider by the Government of Ontario, the Canadian Armed Forces, and Veterans Affairs Canada, this organization provides employers and unions with highly dedicated, well-trained workers to fill the pressing needs of the labor-strapped construction industry.
6. Constructing Hope
Constructing Hope provides construction work training for disadvantaged adults, including people of color, the unemployed, the formerly incarcerated, and low-income individuals re-entering the workforce.
Through a free 10-week training program, students learn various aspects of construction, including blueprint reading, construction skills, applied math, safety, workplace expectations, financial management, construction culture, safety, professional certifications, communications, plan for life success training, and more.
7. Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity believes affordable housing is critical to strong and stable communities and has been building on that idea for almost 50 years. Perhaps one of the most widely recognized construction nonprofits, Habitat for Humanity provides contractors and construction workers with opportunities to help their communities through volunteer work while providing adequate housing for people in need. The group works in more than 70 countries and has helped more than 59 million people with housing since 1976.
Habitat for Humanity puts boots on the ground through various programs to build better communities. Its Neighborhood Revitalization program is just one of many other outreach efforts that help revitalize homes, families, and communities. Habitat Capital, another group effort, builds houses, offers affordable mortgages, and provides financial services and capital to enable underserved people to access affordable housing.
8. CIASP
Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention was born from a need to address suicide in construction after the Centers for Disease Control noted that construction has the highest suicide rate of all industries. CIASP aims to raise awareness and prevent suicide by offering resources for mental wellness to the industry.
The organization’s suicide hotline provides 24/7 help to people experiencing mental health-related distress, such as suicidal thoughts or emotional distress. People can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to receive assistance from a counselor or speak about a loved one who needs help. They also can text the crisis text line by texting HELLO to 741741.
CIASP also offers several helpful resources, including a needs analysis tool, an online training program, and several customizable downloadable toolbox talk PDFs covering awareness, safety, training, and more.
Help is available for those in need
Whether providing housing, grief counseling, job training, or financial assistance, nonprofit organizations like Helmets to Hard Hats, Habitat for Humanity, and BUILD focus on serving their community by providing essential services to people in need. Whether building houses, training new workers, or providing financial assistance, these organizations are doing their part to build thriving communities and fill the gaps in services and opportunities within our communities.
Construction is a significant part of the U.S. and Canadian economies, accounting for more than 9.5 million employees combined. With $2.26 trillion in construction work collectively in the U.S. and Canada, there are many safety risks to data gathered and held by construction companies, including ransomware and other nefarious tactics. Recently, many construction companies have been hit by hackers, but creating a backup plan, installing harder controls, and training employees on threats are simple solutions to mitigate risk and damage.
Ransomware resulting in huge losses
Hackers are specifically targeting construction companies with ransomware, which holds a company’s data hostage until a ransom is paid. It’s just one method used to steal from the construction sector, which is highly vulnerable due to its data and use of tech tools.
The growing number of tools and data that many construction companies use to conduct operations—whether in 3D models, project management software, AI, Internet of Things devices, supply chain management, email, and other means—makes them more vulnerable to thieves.
According to HKA, a global consultancy organization serving the construction industry, several major cyber-attacks in construction have recently caused delays, business disruption, financial losses, and brand damage. Cyberthieves now view construction as an easier target than other industries because its defenses against these attacks aren’t as strong as those of other companies.
“Financial rewards for the attacker are becoming more lucrative as many construction firms embark on digitization programs and introduce new technology… These initiatives are rapidly increasing the firm’s digital footprint and, consequently, their attack surface, giving the attacker more opportunity to launch cyber-attacks,” HKA said in a website article.
These attacks hurt a company’s bottom line and reputation. If targeted by a hacker, a contractor whose data isn’t secure could unwittingly expose the proprietary information of other contractors with whom it works on projects.
In a sector where company information is tightly held due to heavy competition, working with a contractor whose data isn’t secure or who has already been hacked might not seem like a great partnership opportunity for some contractors.
Cyber-attacks on construction companies
Recently, there has been a sharp increase in successful cyberattacks in construction, resulting in substantial losses. These companies include Bird Construction, Solid Bridge Construction, and Royal Bam Group:
Bird Construction
Canadian construction company Bird Construction was bilked through a ransomware attack, where attackers demanded a cryptocurrency payment of $9 million CAD to prevent them from releasing stolen personal information.
Solid Bridge Construction
Hackers used Huntsville, TX-based contractor Solid Bridge Construction’s relationship with another construction company to bilk Solid Bridge of more than $200,000. Solid Bridge partner, TX-based Chance Contracting LLC, was used in a cyber-attack email ostensibly from Brett Chance, the owner of Chance Contracting.
Claiming Chance Contracting wasn’t getting check payments, the email requested that a $210,312.00 payment be sent to a different address than Chance’s regular address. Solid Bridge sent the check, thinking it was paying a true invoice from Chance Contracting, but the payment was sent to an email very similar to the one used by Brett Chance of Chance Contracting.
Royal Bam Group
Finding a vulnerability in the Royal Bam Group website helped hackers sneak into the firm’s corporate network, encrypt its files, and block the company from accessing them. Hackers then demanded payment to allow the company to regain access to its files.
The construction sector is one of the hardest hit by ransomware
Research by Ontinue, a cybersecurity firm specializing in Managed Extended Detection and Response services, indicates that IT and construction accounted for about half of all ransomware attacks the company assessed in 2023. A new report by Ontinue’s Advanced Threat Operations (ATO) team said the increasing sophistication of ransomware tactics, security concerns surrounding Internet of Things (IoT) security, and the misuse of connected devices for malicious purposes are all growing concerns for the construction sector.
Ontinue’s research pointed to four areas of concern of which construction companies should be aware:
Ransomware
Hackers using more sophisticated techniques and double-extortion tactics have made ransomware attacks even more dangerous and prevalent. Double extortion occurs when hackers demand a ransom be paid by a deadline after encrypting data and threaten to permanently restrict access to it, publish it on the dark web, or sell it to a third party.
“Organizations can often recover lost information from previous backups, but it’s much more difficult to stop sensitive data from being leaked after this attack,” said the Global Cybersecurity Alliance. “Organizations with highly sensitive or valuable information should be even more vigilant. Since cybercriminals threaten to publish this data to the highest bidder or destroy it, susceptible businesses often suffer far-reaching implications. “
Social engineering
Social engineering attacks take advantage of human vulnerabilities (like trust in partners) to gain unauthorized access to information and systems, such as in the case of Solid Bridge Construction.
Internet of Things
Hackers are more frequently capitalizing on poorly secured connected devices to gain unauthorized access to data and make companies pay to retrieve it.
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning
Hackers are using AI and ML technologies to create deepfakes to do an end-run around security measures.
Contractors must be much savvier and more guarded about their proprietary data to avoid financial losses and grave risks to their reputation that could impact their bottom line.
By firming up their systems, practices, knowledge of threats, employee awareness, and software, construction companies can create a more ironclad system that is less vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
Here are some tips to do so:
1. Perform software updates promptly
By keeping operating systems, applications, and security tools up to date, contractors can avoid hacker-induced losses. Regularly installing patches and updates released by vendors can help contractors pinpoint and fix vulnerabilities and defend themselves from known cyber threats.
2. Train employees to have threat awareness
Teach employees about threats like phishing, social engineering, and malware. Avail yourself of cybersecurity training and awareness programs. Engender a corporate culture that is mindful of the possibility of security threats. Give employees frequent updates on cyber threats and provide them with best practices to avoid them.
3. Create a data backup plan
Creating a data and systems backup strategy can help ensure backups are stored securely and can be easily regained if needed. Building a plan for disaster recovery can also decrease data loss.
4. Install hardier access controls
Ensure only authorized users have access to sensitive data and systems. A multifactor authentication system, in addition to passwords, adds an extra layer of security. By ensuring that users only have access to information needed for their work, the most sensitive data should be kept the least accessible to employees.
5. Segment and monitor your network
Limit the impact of security failures by putting in place network monitoring tools to locate and react to potentially malevolent activity. Keep a vigilant eye on signs of unlawful access to systems or malicious activity regarding data. Create controls to monitor user behavior and network traffic.
Vigilance is key to avoiding losses
Computers and technologies that use them have made work simpler in some ways. However, the ease of use of these tools in handling tasks has made us more dependent on them and expect more from them, without considering the ever-constant possibility that we are always potentially a couple of wrong keystrokes away from creating a company disaster.
That’s why constant vigilance, continuing awareness, and education about cyber threats are crucial for construction companies. Nobody wants their company to be the next headline.
Regardless of the job location, the need for skilled masonry professionals who can lay brick and block is high. Many contractors say it’s hard to find good bricklayers, and various factors play into this, including less need for work in some areas, fewer skilled tradespeople, lack of communication between subcontractors, and society encouraging young people to further education rather than pursue a trade.
Masonry work is an excellent choice for workers who want to develop a skill that pays well and is rewarding. Trained masons can easily command $40-$60 per hour, and their demand is high. And if they’re lucky, they can pick and choose their work.
One bricklayer union hall and several masons and bricklayers were contracted to comment on this story, but to no avail (maybe they were too busy). Still, this article required interviewing more than a half-dozen contractors on job sites doing masonry and brickwork around Pittsburgh.
Here’s what these professionals say is leading to a lack of trained bricklayers.
Masonry work is too physically demanding for many workers
“They’re afraid to get up in the morning,” said Giuseppe, a masonry contractor working with a small crew (including his adult son) on a large cement block and reinforced cement foundation on the back of a restaurant under renovation.
Fewer young people are getting into bricklaying and construction altogether, whether it’s due to inactivity, too little mentoring from adults in the trades, a lack of established work ethic, or a fear/inability to work an often painfully hard job.
In his 60s, Giuseppe is slender and fit and looks years, if not decades, younger than his age. He’s smiling as he works and doesn’t appear tired, though it’s a warm Spring day. He’s slinging around mortar and cement blocks like a young man.
“This is great work!” Giuseppe says with a smile. “And you can make a lotta money!”
Channeling of young people toward a college education
A society-wide push to have young people attend college is hurting the trades, some masons we spoke with said.
Giuseppe said many people now denigrate trade work, though it’s fulfilling, enjoyable work that pays well. He said that young people are encouraged to go to college, but it’s not a good bet for everyone.
“And now they want us to pay for their student loans! Why? I didn’t get into that debt,” Giuseppe said, deftly placing a cement block on a pad of fresh mortar atop another block and skimming the excess mortar away with a trowel. “This is good work. They should be encouraging young people to get into the trades.”
Giuseppe got into masonry work 30 years ago after starting as a union-trained welder in the oil and gas industry. He said some young workers may look down on that work, but welders can make $400 or more per hour, so young people might not know what they’re missing.
“They don’t want to work hard,” Giuseppe said, referring to the lack of young people becoming masons. “But masonry work is great work, and you can earn a very good living.”
His sentiments on the work ethic of some in the younger generation were echoed by other masons contacted around Pittsburgh, including John, a masonry pro from East Anglia in the UK.
“The work is too hard for many, but I like it! Look at that beautiful facade I re-did,” John said, waving an arm across the street to a freshly renovated row house.
Rico, a landscaper who started as a union-trained bricklayer years ago but got into landscaping work because it’s easier, in part, agreed that many don’t like the hard labor of bricklaying. Taking a break from installing an interlocking paver patio at a city home, he opined why fewer workers want to get into masonry work. “I think people don’t want to sling brick, block, and mud all day. It’s really hard work,” Rico said.
But despite excellent union bricklaying trainee programs available, other trends may affect how many bricklayers are becoming trained and how many are available for work, including design trends.
Use of faux-masonry materials (brick or stone)
Instead of having a skilled mason install a 1-brick or 2-brick exterior façade on a building, it seems that more contractors are doing the job quicker and cheaper by using materials that look like brick or stone but are prefabricated pieces. Some are 3-inch brick veneers that are installed like tile. Many semi-skilled craftsmen can handle this kind of work, and true bricklayers typically aren’t needed.
Less use of brick for exteriors
The urban redevelopment aesthetic of new builds exhibits a rather drab look—exterior facades that look like unfinished drywall or are made of brightly colored corrugated aluminum siding, or in best cases, facades of intricately weathered Corten steel panels. Fewer bricks are used in new urban residences, even in older areas composed mostly of old brick rowhouses.
Less use of bricks in construction may lead to fewer workers specializing in the trade, although the masons we spoke with said there is still a need for bricklayers in the suburban home market.
Part of the problem may be that not all subcontractors work well together—even immigrants who work with other immigrants.
Use of immigrant labor in construction
Surprisingly, one mason contacted on a job site for this story pointed an accusing finger at “some immigrant work crews” and problems resulting from working with such subcontractors without specifying which types of immigrants were being referenced. It was surprising because the tradesman, Vladimir, has been working in construction in the U.S. since he came here from Russia 17 years ago.
He even prefaced his comment by saying, “I shouldn’t be saying this because I’m an immigrant, but…” when mentioning that he didn’t like working with some immigrant crews because their scheduling was often unpredictable. He doesn’t like being held up on a job by other workers who haven’t completed their work.
Because of the unpredictability of these work relationships, Vladimir has mostly given up doing outside brick-and-stone work. He doesn’t like waiting on other subcontractors to finish his work—he prefers to do a job promptly and leave. Now, he’s shifted his focus to primarily interior work like fireplaces, significantly decreasing his average hourly earnings. It’s how he prefers it, and being a sole proprietor, he calls the shots.
“I like to work on my own, and it works best this way,” Vladimir said. Because he avoids exterior work, his hourly earnings are usually around $45/hour.
The prostate is a small gland located beneath the bladder that’s partly responsible for producing the fluid that makes up semen. The prostate naturally grows with age, but an enlarged prostate can lead to issues with urination, pain, and discomfort. The risk of prostate cancer in men is relatively high, so regular checkups, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating clean are easy ways to keep your prostate healthy and reduce your risk of prostate cancer and other prostate conditions.
Quick look
What is the prostate
Prevalence of prostate cancer in men
Symptoms of enlarged
Causes of enlarged prostate
Enlarged prostate symptoms
Construction work and prostate cancer
The prostate is a small chestnut-sized gland
The prostate is a small gland that’s part of the male reproductive system. It is located just beneath the bladder and above the pelvic floor muscles. The prostate gland ducts flow into the urethra, which passes through the prostate.
Image courtesy of the National Cancer Institute
The prostate produces the fluid that, together with sperm cells from the testicles and fluids from other glands, makes up semen. The prostate muscles also make sure that semen is forcefully pressed into the urethra and then expelled during ejaculation.
It also plays a role in:
Closing of the urethra up to the bladder during ejaculation
Closing of the seminal ducts during urination
Hormone metabolism (testosterone is converted to its biologically active form, DHT)
The prostate goes through two main periods of growth—the first during puberty, when the prostate doubles in size, and the second around 25, where it continues to grow during most of a man’s life.
Enlarged prostates, referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), are relatively common and not always a cause for concern. Rates increase with advancing age, and research suggests that the histological prevalence of BPH is as high as 50% to 60% for males in their 60s, rising to 80% to 90% of those older than 70.
BPH is a condition whereby the prostate is enlarged but not cancerous. An enlarged prostate presses against and pinches the urethra. This results in urethral compression and obstructed bladder outflow, which can eventually lead to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), urinary retention, or infections due to incomplete bladder emptying.
For most men, this can be problematic for many reasons, the most obvious being impotence or incontinence issues.
But it’s important to remember that just because the prostate is enlarged does not mean it’s cancerous—and that’s only one reason why all men should be aware of maintaining good prostate health.
Prostate cancer prevalence is high
Apart from BPH, prostate cancer is another biggie that men need to know about when it comes to prostate health.
The risk of prostate cancer varies based on a man’s age, race, lifestyle, and even occupation since some jobs have a higher risk of this disease. Statistics from the American Cancer Society estimate that 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It’s also the second most common cancer in men worldwide.
That means that on a job site of 80 people, ten will have prostate cancer.
The average age of men when first diagnosed with prostate cancer is 67, but the risk is higher in African American and Caribbean African men, though it’s not entirely clear why. Some sources suggest diet and lifestyle factors may contribute.
Prostate cancer treatment is widely available, and survival rates are high—in Canada, the 5-year net survival for prostate cancer is 91%, meaning about 91% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will live for at least five years following diagnosis and treatment. In the US, that stat is slightly higher, with the 5-year survival rate at 97% and the 10-year relative survival rate at 98%.
Here’s the important part: the key to beating cancer is early detection. Cancer survival rates are much higher when metastasis hasn’t occurred.
Enlarged prostate symptoms
Because the prostate gland is located just below the bladder, an enlarged prostate can interfere with the urethra and, therefore, urination. Pressure from an enlarged prostate can block the flow of urine and semen and cause irritation. For men who have developed BPD, any of the following symptoms may occur:
Weak or interrupted urine flow
Trouble starting urination
Sudden urgency to urinate
Frequent urination
Inability to empty the bladder
Dribbling at the end of urination
Urinary incontinence
Pain after ejaculation or during urination
Urine that has an unusual color or smell
It’s important to remember that the prostate’s size isn’t the be-all-end-all—the position of the prostate relative to the urethra is more important than its actual size. But if you notice any symptoms of an enlarged prostate, speak to your doctor about an examination.
Prostatitis is another common issue that occurs in men under 50. It’s a painful and uncomfortable condition caused by inflammation of the prostate and sometimes the areas around the prostate. It’s the most common urinary tract problem in men under 50 and the third most common urinary tract problem for men older than 50.
The primary symptoms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome include pain or discomfort lasting three or more months in one or more of the following areas:
Between the scrotum and anus
The central lower abdomen
The penis
The scrotum
The lower back
Pain during or after ejaculation
Other symptoms of chronic prostatitis include:
Pain in the urethra during or after urination
Pain in the penis during or after urination
Frequent urination (8 or more times a day)
Increased urinary urgency
Weak or interrupted urine stream
Acute bacterial prostatitis symptoms appear suddenly and are severe, meaning immediate medical attention is crucial. Symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis may include:
Frequent urination
Urinary urgency
Fever
Chills
Burning or pain during urination
Pain in the genital area, groin, lower abdomen, or lower back
Frequent urination during periods of sleep (nocturia)
Nausea and vomiting
Body aches
Urinary retention
Difficulty starting a urine stream
Weak or interrupted urine stream
Urinary blockage (inability to urinate)
UTI
Chronic bacterial prostatitis symptoms are similar to acute ones but often not as severe. This type of prostatitis typically develops slower and can last three or more months, with symptoms coming and going, or mild all the time. Common symptoms of chronic bacterial prostatitis may include:
Urinary frequency
Urinary urgency
Burning feeling or pain during urination
Pain in the genital area, groin, lower abdomen, or lower back
Frequent urination during periods of sleep (nocturia)
Painful ejaculation
Urinary retention
Difficulty starting a urine stream
Weak or interrupted urine stream
Urinary blockage
UTI
After you turn 40, speak regularly with your physician about your prostate health. Also, be sure to schedule regular checkups with your healthcare practitioner.
Causes of an enlarged prostate
Doctors aren’t sure why the prostate begins to grow after men hit a certain age, but it’s been speculated that excess hormones might be the culprit. Some research has found a correlation between high dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the blood and enlarged prostates, but other evidence shows a potential link to aging and changes in the cells of the testicles.
Put simply, researchers aren’t sure of the specifics of why BPH happens, but certain diet and lifestyle factors may contribute. What they do know is that men who have had their scrotums removed due to something like testicular cancer don’t have enlarged prostates.
There also are links between higher estrogen levels and prostate cancer. Testosterone levels naturally decline as men age, which changes the relative proportions of estrogen and testosterone in the bloodstream. Higher levels of estrogen are a documented marker for prostate cancer.
Risk factors for prostate cancer
As with most cancers, prostate cancer is hereditary—but your genes aren’t the only thing that determines your risk. Construction workers, specifically, are subject to environmental, physical, and stress-related factors that can put them at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
One Canadian study of about 35,000 prostate cancer cases among workers found a higher risk in men employed in management/administration, teaching, transportation, construction, firefighting, and police work. What’s apparent from the data is that stress could be a risk factor for this disease, given that most of these professions could be considered high-stress.
Researchers have identified the need to assess job-specific exposures related to prostate cancer, including sedentary behavior, stress, and shift work. However, certain things are known to be related to cancer risk, including a family history of prostate cancer, being overweight or obese, smoking, eating processed and/or red meat or high saturated fat intake, low physical activity, and stress.
One study on job-related risk factors for prostate cancer found that exposure to certain chemicals likely plays a part. The study identified possible risk factors for prostate cancer, including exposure to:
Pesticides
Cadmium
Chromium
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
Cutting fluids
Diesel fumes
Metal fabrication
Metal dust
Rubber
Ionizing radiation
Tips to maintain a healthy prostate
Lose extra pounds
Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for several types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Research shows that obesity is linked to several hormonal changes, many of which have been implicated in prostate cancer development and progression. To maintain a healthy prostate, you need to lose extra weight.
Clean up your diet
Diet plays a huge part in disease risk, and cleaning up your diet—removing excess sugar, processed foods, high saturated fat, etc.—can profoundly impact your overall health. But when choosing the right foods to eat, consider the Mediterranean diet. Studies have shown that men who stick to a predominantly Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer but also a higher chance of recovery if they have prostate cancer and are undergoing radiation treatment.
The Mediterranean diet is a style of eating based on the traditional eating patterns of people living in Greece, Italy, South of France, and some Middle Eastern countries. It doesn’t restrict fat or carbohydrates but focuses on consuming whole foods in their most natural form. That means cutting back on processed and refined foods and filling your plate mostly with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, and fish.
Quit smoking
Smoking is one of the top contributors to lung cancer, but it’s also linked to a host of other cancers due to its effect on circulating hormone levels and exposure to carcinogens. While the link between smoking and prostate cancer isn’t completely clear, some researchers suggest that some cancerous pollutants inhaled from cigarettes are excreted in urine, which flows through the prostate. As such, there’s the potential for smoking to increase levels of toxic inflammation, thereby heightening the risk of cancer.
Get physically active
It’s clear that regular physical activity has benefits for overall health, but there’s abundant research backing the role of physical activity in prostate cancer prevention. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis found a “30% risk reduction for prostate cancer mortality and a 40% risk reduction for all-cause mortality for the most vs. least active prostate cancer survivors.” But it’s not just about moving your body—it’s also about the weight loss that comes with regular exercise.
Whether you play basketball, go for a run, or lift weights, regular physical activity helps control your weight and inflammation levels.
Consider taking a prostate supplement
Supplements aren’t intended to replace a healthy diet, but they can be a great compliment to one. Natural supplements like lycopene (found in cooked tomatoes), saw palmetto, boron, pumpkin seed oil, and beta-sitosterol are research-backed natural supplements for improving prostate health. Be sure to speak with your healthcare professional before starting any new supplements.
Know your risk
A family history of prostate cancer increases your risk, as does working in a high-stress environment like construction. If you’re in a high-risk group for developing prostate cancer, consider getting screened starting at age 40. Men at normal risk are encouraged to consider screenings beginning at age 55.
Bottom line
The health of your prostate is just as vital as any other organ in your body. While construction workers are known to be at a higher risk for cardiovascular complications, heart health shouldn’t be the only priority.
Cleaning up your diet, maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active outside of work, and getting regular checkups are simple ways to keep your health and reduce your risk of developing prostate problems.
The Ontario-based Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) recently increased its mental health coverage in 2023 from $3,000 to $5,000 while expanding its practitioners to include psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts. In January, mental health coverage became unlimited for its employees and their dependents.
WSIB also recently increased mental health coverage in its organization by making it unlimited for its employees and their dependents.
These efforts highlight a growing need among Canada’s population of about 39 million for more healthcare for mental well-being. WSIB seems to be leading the way in this regard, at least in Canada, by offering such coverage to roughly one-eighth of the nation’s citizens who have coverage with the group.
WSIB provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage, and support to workers injured on the job. It also provides no-fault collective liability insurance and health and safety information access. WSIB serves over five million workers in more than 300,000 workplaces in Ontario.
Its leaders say that employee well-being is crucial at WSIB.
“When we look at the claims we’re dealing with every day in Ontario, mental-health-related claims are growing faster than any other type of claim,” said Anna Filice, WSIB chief people officer. “The effects tend to linger and the costs to employees’ lives once they enter into the [health-care] system are great.”
Filice said the expanded coverage in WSIB reflects its vision.
“Our employer value proposition is based around taking care of the whole person. The decision to make mental health coverage unlimited aligns with our shared values and our broader wellness strategy. We thought this was a meaningful way to demonstrate our commitment to our employees,” Filice said. “We didn’t want to put a ceiling on these types of benefits because we didn’t want anyone running into barriers accessing services they need for their recovery.”
According to a 2023 survey by TELUS Health, 32% of Canadian employees say cost is the biggest obstacle in getting mental health support.
The TELUS Mental Health Index recently (October 2023) stated that workers who have work conflicts lose an average of 55 work days annually. TELUS found that among Canadian workers, 26% say better support by their employer for their well-being is more important than a pay raise.
“The negative impacts of stress… have a ripple effect throughout an organization, impacting every level,” said Juggy Sihota, Chief Growth Officer for TELUS Health. “The well-being of workers and the success of the business are inherently connected. By prioritizing investments in tools, processes and comprehensive benefits plans that foster a psychologically safe and supportive work environment, employers can cultivate a highly engaged and productive workforce that drives business outcomes.”
Many traditional benefits plans only cover psychology or social work and reimburse as little as $300 to $500 in such expenses annually.
According to Mercer Canada’s 2022 People Risk Survey, a third of disability claims under Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plans in 2022 were due to mental health reasons. About 55% of employers expect health and safety risks to impact their businesses in the next three years. Workforce exhaustion exacerbates mental health issues among workers.
Construction work is often dangerous and performed in hazardous conditions that require a worker’s constant attention. Yet, the industry tops the charts with some of the highest rates of substance abuse of any industry. Annually, hundreds of construction workers experience overdoses, while thousands more struggle with addiction daily. Local and federal officials are addressing the problem, but contractors and co-workers can do their part through acknowledgment and support.
Quick look
Substance abuse rates are higher in the construction industry due to work-related physical disorders, stress and mental health issues, and the industry’s “macho” culture
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHA) suggests that approximately 15% of construction workers struggle with substance abuse
Alcohol abuse rates in the construction industry are nearly double that of the general population
Construction workers have the highest mortality rates for drug overdose deaths and prescription opioid-related overdose deaths of any industry
To help combat addiction, employers must implement wellness programs and offer support resources
Culture and work conditions contribute to addiction
Many factors contribute to construction workers having a significantly higher rate of substance abuse than the general public. Some of these include:
Cultural factors bound to their work
Common work-related physical maladies
Work-born stress and associated mental health problems
The stiff-upper-lip mindset (also known as the macho culture)
A macho attitude is not specific to any ethnic group in construction but rather part of the culture. Construction workers like to view themselves as tough because they are, and perhaps there’s nothing wrong with this can-do view in and of itself. Maybe it is essential.
However, a go-it-alone approach among these workers can lead to problems like drug and alcohol abuse.
People with mental health issues tend to self-medicate with illegal drugs or excessive drinking rather than seek help through counseling—it’s an ‘easier’ way out that doesn’t involve being vulnerable. The national opioid crisis resulting from the overprescription of opioids has led to a two-fold addiction of workers to pills and heroin (which some opioid users progress to in their addictions or use to complement it).
The figures on addiction in construction are staggering. Maybe it shouldn’t be surprising, given the stress of working in the industry. Still, more needs to be done to help workers and contractors.
Scope of the substance abuse problem
Working construction is stressful, in part, due to the physical toll it takes on the body, but also the danger of the tasks, the noise and noxious fumes, the pressure of meeting deadlines, the often-seasonal nature of the work (which leaves many out of employment and scratching for a living), and other factors. These stresses may be at least partly responsible for the higher prevalence of substance use in the sector, which is about double the national average.
Construction workers, most of whom are blue-collar workers, are twice as likely to abuse drugs as the national average for all adult workers. While 8.6% of the general worker population struggles with substance abuse, at least 15% of construction workers do, according to SAMHA’s National Survey on Drug Use.
Here are more stats to hammer home the scope of the problem. Among other industries in the U.S., construction ranks:
3rd in illicit drug use — 12.95%
2nd in heavy drinking — 16.02%
2nd in substance abuse disorder — 16.07%
1st in marijuana use — 60.33%
1st in heroin use — 4.42%
1st in pain reliever/opioid abuse — 22.63%
Substance use in the industry has reached a level that some local officials have decided to address it.
In late 2023, New York City officials began to tour construction sites across the city to educate workers on the dangers of opioid abuse and other drug addictions and the particular risks they pose in the construction field. This effort began after statistics revealed more than 250 workers died of overdoses each year in New York City.
However, a worker doesn’t need to be in a big city for this affliction to hurt them. It’s a global problem in the construction industry.
Alcohol abuse is rampant
Consuming alcohol in the male-dominated industry is part of the cultural fabric—it’s not uncommon for workers to grab a beer after a long day. Admittedly, there are a lot of hard drinkers in this sector, with 12% having an alcohol use disorder compared to 7.5% of adults nationally, according to the SAMHA study.
According to the report, 14.3% of construction workers reported being diagnosed with a substance use disorder within the past year—1.5 times the national average. Their reported rates of overdrinking are similar, with 12% saying they have an alcohol use disorder compared to 7.5% of adults nationally.
The male-dominated construction industry’s macho culture can lead some to the work-hard-play-hard mentality, which too often naturally comes with over-drink and drug use. According to the SAMHA report, 16.5% of construction workers reported heavy alcohol consumption within the past month—that’s almost twice the average of workers surveyed.
But here’s where things get tricky: most people aren’t honest about the extent of the problem, especially when it comes to highly personal matters like substance use. While 11.6% of construction workers reported illegal drug use within the past month and 2.3% reported having a marijuana use disorder, rates are likely higher.
Opioid addiction is pervasive
About 1.3% of construction workers have an opioid use disorder, which is nearly twice the national average for adults. Opioid addictions often result from a patient’s dependence on a drug first prescribed by a doctor for a physical disorder, such as a severe work-related injury. Because opioids are highly addictive, it’s easy for people who were never addicts to become addicted.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says construction has the highest mortality rates for drug overdose deaths and prescription opioid overdose deaths of any industry. The CDC report on overdose deaths by occupation found 162 overdose deaths per 100,000 construction workers in 2020.
With musculoskeletal problems and other physical injuries common in the industry, overprescription of painkillers is a serious issue exacerbating the problem.
Nearly three-quarters of injured construction workers were prescribed a narcotic painkiller in 2016, according to American Addiction Centers. “Opioids account for 20% of the total spending on prescription drugs in the construction industry, a higher amount than any other industry, according to a report by CNA Financial,” AAC says on its website.
Construction overdose deaths top all industries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, construction workers have the highest mortality rates for drug overdose deaths and prescription opioid-related overdose deaths—they are seven times more likely to die of an opioid overdose than workers in other industries.
Construction workers account for a quarter of fatal opioid overdoses and have the highest proportion of heroin-related overdose deaths of any industry.
A study on drug use by New York University found that compared to all other professions, construction workers are most likely to use heroin or cocaine. The industry had the highest rate of abusing prescription opioids (3.4% versus 2%) and the highest rate of cocaine use (1.8% versus 0.8%).
Marijuana use is very high
Construction workers also have the second highest rate of marijuana use among all types of workers, just behind service jobs workers—12.3% versus 12.4%, compared with 7.5% in non-construction occupations.
The implications of drug-impaired or drunk construction workers—even boots-on-ground laborers not working with heavy machinery—are troubling. And the fact that it happens daily on construction sites across the country is far more disturbing.
While there is no statistical data showing how many job site accidents or incidents are due to intoxicated workers, it’s safe to assume that several are, to some degree.
Spotting signs of substance abuse
There’s no legal definition of what impairment or being under the influence of marijuana is, and people hide signs of impairment if they are at work. But signs of drug or alcohol impairment while on the job can include:
Changes in speech and demeanor
Impaired agility and coordination
Irrational behavior
Carelessness when operating equipment or machinery
Disregarding the safety of others
Having an accident resulting in heavy damage to equipment or property
Some signs of impairment may not mean the person is impaired but rather that they have a physical ailment, and if so, the law protects them. Because of this and due to the possibility of a wrongful punitive action occurring because of a misjudgment that a worker is impaired, it’s best to set up parameters by which employees know performance expectations and through which they know that certain appearances and behaviors might raise alarm bells regarding their possible on-site impairment.
Such parameters and indicators that couple make employees subject to extra substance abuse scrutiny (like an on-the-spot drug test) by their employer might include:
Seeming impaired at work, such as smelling like alcohol or drugs, being glassy-eyed, walking unsteadily, having slurred speech, or lacking coordination
Unsafe work resulting in an accident
Failing a drug test
Having written expectations and consequences is a necessary part of keeping employees safe. Employers must encourage wellness among workers in every respect—physical, emotional, and psychological.
Employers must implement wellness programs that offer workers a safe, nonjudgmental space to express their feelings and receive help and support when needed without fear of losing their jobs.
Workers should be encouraged to look out for their co-workers who may need support with addiction, to know the possible signs, and how to offer them help when needed. Employers should also include addiction treatment in the company’s health care benefits when possible.
Safety is the priority
From start to finish, trying to do the right thing for workers who are struggling with addiction is about safety—of the worker, co-workers, and the company as a whole.
A healthy worker is a safer worker, and addicted workers are neither healthy nor safe.
Managers and employers should remember to be compassionate and practice empathy when dealing with construction workers compromising safety on a worksite. The person being reprimanded is a fellow worker and a human being, likely hurting physically and emotionally. They need your help and support.
Everything we need to know about longevity we can glean from some of the oldest people we know. Their lives instruct us to eat healthy, stay active, socialize, have a reason for being, believe in greater goals, and be optimistic to increase longevity.
Informed by the habits of our elders, here are six tips that will help increase longevity.
Longevity is exceptional
Living to a ripe old age is the exception, not the rule. The average American man lives to just 73, while women live to an average of 79. Average lifespans have increased over the last century-plus—the average lifespan for a man and woman in 1900 was just 46 and 48, respectively.
Too often, we’re amazed by someone who lived into their 80s or 90s and stayed alert and active their entire life. This seems the exception, and it truly is, but it should be the rule.
Why longevity matters: Construction workers are in a high-risk industry. According to research by the Center for Construction Research and Training, construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States, and the Focus Four hazards (falls, struck-by, electrocutions, and caught-in/between), defined by OSGA, remain leading fatal threats to workers in the industry. In 2019, the number of fatal injuries in construction reached 1,102—the highest since before 2011. While practicing safety at work is paramount, there are also things workers can do outside of work to maintain their health and avoid premature death.
For those who grew up in an older area (and those who didn’t), studying the habits of our elders and incorporating them into daily routines could improve overall health and increase lifespan.
Our best 6 tips to increase longevity
Walk—for your body and mind
Staying physically active is one of the most critical factors that can increase longevity, but many people are too sedentary, which can lead to a host of health issues. Studies find that people who walked one or more hours per day have a longer life expectancy from 40 years of age than participants who walked less than one hour per day.
Adding to that, a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiologylooked at data from 17 studies with more than 226,889 participants and found the following results:
Every 500 daily steps taken was linked to a 7% lower risk of death from cardiovascular causes
Every 1,000 daily steps taken was linked to a 15% lower risk of death from all causes
4,000 steps daily led to a significant reduction in all-cause mortality
2,500 steps per day provided considerable health benefits
However, according to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, walking for just 11 minutes daily can lower one’s risk of premature death by almost 25%.
Put simply, most people need to walk more. Experts recommend that adults take at least 10,000 steps daily, about five miles.
For most otherwise healthy and physically able people, walking is excellent exercise. It’s a low-impact exercise with many health benefits and can be increased in intensity to cater to an individual’s physical abilities. For those with a moderate need to walk, just a 2½ -mile walk twice daily will be helpful.
But for those who want more intense exercise, walking uphill or increasing the length of walks would be suitable.
Add a challenge: Make your walk harder by adding resistance, such as carrying a backpack of groceries home from the store.
Our elders don’t take the easy route—they often do things the hard way, intentionally, and their lean physiques tell the tale.
The good news for construction workers is that many get well over five miles of steps daily through their workdays (not to mention the often intensely physical efforts of some of their daily work).
But there’s no reason to slouch or rest on their laurels: construction workers, like many Americans, tend to be overweight, smoke, eat unhealthy, and drink in excess. While walking won’t offset poor lifestyle choices and dietary habits, it will improve your health.
Bonus: Walking a few miles after a workday will improve your health, mood, and stress levels.
Get out into nature
The oldsters we once knew almost always cooked their meals—fast food and convenience weren’t a thing back then. In many cases, elders gardened. If we saw old folks who let their gardens go wild, we knew they weren’t doing well.
Tending their gardens was part of these folks’ daily activity. And most of it was done on small plots of land, but that didn’t matter—they smiled and joked as they did. We should, too.
Being in nature is calming for many people, which is partly why working in your garden can be fulfilling—it offers new surprises and challenges throughout the growing season. It’s also another reason to look forward to the day—what buds, fruits, vegetables, or flowers will your garden bless you with today?
Gardeners are often amazed and gratified by how their plants grow, which makes them thankful. Flower gardeners can enjoy the fruits of their labors in mood-enhancing vases of cut flowers that delicately scent their homes. Vegetable gardeners can bring in bumper crops so big they naturally share the perishable wealth with neighbors or preserve that bounty by canning.
Gardening is calming for the nervous system but can also be vigorous exercise, especially when it involves lawnmowers and shovels.
When you’re calm, your heart rate and blood pressure are lower, lowering your risk of cardiovascular events. And when you’re calm, you also feel better.
Be active in a social group
The oldest people tend to have active social circles. The reason: loneliness can have serious effects on health.
Social isolation significantly increases a person’s risk of premature death from all causes
Social isolation was associated with a 50% increased risk of dementia
Poor social relationships were linked to a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke
Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide
Loneliness among patients with heart failure was associated with nearly four times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.
Most elders who have reached their 80s and 90s have been or are currently socially active, whether in a church, fraternal organization, or other social circles. They enjoy being around others and helping others—it helps give their lives purpose, and having purpose is essential to keeping a positive perspective on life.
While socializing isn’t for everyone, it is often as important to health as eating and exercising—and it’s a must to increase longevity.
Quit smoking and excess alcohol consumption
It’s no surprise that smoking isn’t good for your health. It stresses your respiratory and cardiovascular system, increases inflammation, constricts blood vessels, and significantly increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and other diseases.
For construction workers, there are additional risks—smoking can increase the likelihood of asbestosis, silicosis, or other trade-related diseases.
Curbing smoking is one of the quickest ways to increase longevity. According to a study published in JAMA, “quitting smoking before age 44 years was associated with a reduction in mortality that was 21% higher than that associated with never smoking.”.
Alcohol intake should also be limited. High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems are just some of the health effects of excessive alcohol consumption.
While having a few beers with the boys after work is a time-honored tradition in construction, it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence.
Eat healthy
Eating a healthy diet—and not overeating—is a pillar of good health and a key to increase longevity. There’s a lot of conflicting information on what’s actually healthy and what’s not, but as a general rule, the consensus is to eat whole foods in their most natural form, which also means limiting or avoiding processed and refined foods.
Experts recommend limiting red meat consumption to two times a week or less. They also recommend limiting saturated fat intake, commonly found in processed food and high-fat animal proteins. These fats can lead to high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, heart problems, and other health issues.
According to research into the blue zones (areas where people live the longest), there are a handful of foods that should be a staple in the diet:
Greens, such as spinach, kale, lettuce, or collard greens
Whole grains, including oats, corn, and rice (complex carb)
Nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, and almonds
Tubers, including potatoes and yams (complex carb)
Beans (complex carb)
Stay positive
Positivity is contagious, and the longest-living people tend to have the most positive outlook. Part of this is likely due to their overall good health, but part is also their choice. According to two NIA-funded studies, optimism is linked to a longer lifespan in women from diverse racial and ethnic groups and to better emotional health in older men. Specifically, the most optimistic women lived an average of 5.4% longer (approximately 4.4 years) than the least optimistic women, and they were also most likely to achieve exceptional longevity, defined as living over 90 years.
For many of these people, believing in a higher power or a higher cause is a core principle in their daily lives. It gives them a purpose and improves their emotional and mental health, which translates to better physical health.
The key point here is that sound bodies and sound minds go hand in hand. While some of the old folks’ practices may be outdated, there’s a method to their madness. Open your eyes, take notice, and emulate their habits for a healthier, stronger, and longer life.
Accidents involving worker deaths are common in the construction industry. Experiencing or witnessing a shocking, scary, or dangerous event can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—a disorder characterized by flashbacks, intense anxiety, and other symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. If not addressed, PTSD can lead to changes in physical responses to normal stimuli, emotions, and behavior, which can adversely affect quality of life.
Quick look
PTSD is a disorder that can develop after witnessing or experiencing a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
If left untreated, PTSD can lead to mood disturbances and engaging in risky, reckless, or destructive behavior.
Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD—specific individuals are more susceptible.
Avoidance, intrusive memories or uncontrollable thoughts, negative mood, and intense anxiety are some of the most common PTSD symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and cognitive processing therapy are some PTSD treatment options.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
PTSD develops in some people who’ve witnessed or experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. For some people, the thoughts or memories attached to these events can adversely affect their lives long after any real danger has passed. These types of experiences are labeled as “traumatic.”
It’s normal for people to have temporary difficulty in adjusting and coping with a traumatic event. However, if symptoms persist for weeks, months, or even years after the event, they could be diagnosed with PTSD.
PTSD typically can’t be ‘treated’ without help from a medical professional. Counseling or therapy can help minimize symptoms, but depending upon the severity of trauma and the person’s life experiences (and previous traumas), some symptoms may persist after treatment.
This disorder has been well-known for generations, thanks to doctors’ awareness of battle fatigue or “shell shock” in combat veterans—but you don’t need to have been through war or civil unrest to experience PTSD.
According to the National Institute on Mental Health, the lead federal agency on research on mental disorders, even a person close to someone who experienced a traumatic event may also develop PTSD, despite not having experienced the traumatic event themselves.
PTSD is more common than many people might think. According to the National Center for PTSD, at least six of every 100 people will experience PTSD at some time in their lives.
Causes and risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a natural response to traumatic events, such as car accidents, fires, falls, and deaths, but it can also develop from being involved in natural disasters, such as a hurricane, floods, or earthquakes.
Some people experience traumatic events and don’t develop PTSD, as several factors play a part in whether a person will develop the disorder. Certain risk factors increase a person’s susceptibility to developing PTSD, whereas protective factors reduce the risk.
PTSD risk factors include:
Previously experiencing dangerous events and trauma
Having a history of mental health or substance use/abuse problems
Feeling helplessness or extreme fear
Inadequate support system after the traumatic event
Feeling guilt, shame, or responsibility for the event or its outcome
Experiencing additional stress after the event
The following image shows other empirically validated risk factors for PTSD:
Photo source: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults: Impact, Comorbidity, Risk Factors, and Treatment
Extensive network of support (family, friends, counselors, etc.)
Participating in a support group after a traumatic event
Feeling confident about one’s actions regarding the event
Having a coping strategy to deal with the traumatic event
Being able to act and respond effectively despite feeling fear
Post-traumatic stress disorder signs and symptoms
PTSD symptoms usually begin within a month of a triggering event but may not arise for years after the incident. Symptoms include but aren’t limited to:
Avoidance
Intrusive memories or uncontrollable thoughts about the event
Negative changes in thinking and mood
Changes in a person’s physical and emotional reactions
Flashbacks to the event that triggered the PTSD
Nightmares and intense anxiety
Panic attacks
Inability to handle the trauma and move on with life
Symptoms interfering with daily functioning
PTSD can lead people to engage in self-destructive behaviors like overdrinking or drug use. It can create rifts in relationships, interfere with a person’s career, or lead to self-harm or suicidal thoughts or actions. That’s why it’s important to recognize the symptoms of PTSD and to seek help.
To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must present with all of the following for at least one month:
At least one symptom of re-experiencing the traumatic event
At least one symptom of avoidance due to the trauma
At least two arousal symptoms and reaction symptoms that are related to the trauma
At least two cognition (ability to work and function) and mood symptoms
Re-experiencing symptoms include having flashbacks that re-live the traumatic event, including symptoms like a racing heart or sweating. Such symptoms also include having recurring memories or dreams related to the event, having distressing thoughts, and experiencing physical signs of stress.
Thoughts and feelings, words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can be triggers.
Avoidance symptoms include staying away from places, events, or objects that remind of the traumatic experience and avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the trauma. Avoidance symptoms may cause people to change their routines.
Arousal symptoms are often constant in someone with PTSD. They can lead to feelings of stress and anger and may interfere with parts of daily life, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating on tasks.
Arousal and reactivity symptoms include:
Being easily startled and feeling tense, on guard, or on edge
Having difficulty concentrating
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Feeling irritable and having angry or aggressive outbursts
Engaging in risky, reckless, or destructive behavior
Cognition and mood symptoms can make a person feel detached from friends, family, or daily life, like they are observing things rather than experiencing them. That symptom is called derealization or detachment.
Cognition and mood symptoms include:
Trouble remembering essential parts of the traumatic event
Feeling negative about oneself or the world
Having ongoing negative emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame
Losing interest in enjoyable activities
Feeling socially isolated
Having difficulty feeling happy, satisfied, or positive
Derealization isn’t uncommon in people who have PTSD and is, generally speaking, a feeling of unreality on the part of the person experiencing the symptom. The symptom has been aptly described as feeling as if you are in a movie—things don’t feel real. For some, there’s a numbness, a detachment, even a fog that removes the sufferer from daily life. And it’s as dangerous on a construction site as a mad-drunk backhoe operator.
The implications of a PTSD-afflicted construction worker being onsite, laboring in a mental fog, or feeling strangely detached because of unresolved trauma while performing dangerous construction tasks are scary. That worker’s life—and the lives of co-workers—could be on the line because of this worker’s untreated illness.
Derealization episodes can last minutes or even days or months at a time. Symptoms of derealization include:
Objects around you feel unreal or distant
Familiar places are strange and unfamiliar
You feel you’re looking at the world through a fog
You’re unable to remember what you are doing
Why some people develop PTSD and others don’t
Biological factors and previous life experiences, such as childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, can increase the risk of developing PTSD after a traumatic event. Women are also statistically more likely to develop PTSD than men.
However, a recent study published in Biological Psychiatry found that the body’s hormone stress response may explain why some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder following trauma exposure and others don’t. “There are considerable differences in the levels of glucocorticoids that individuals release to the bloodstream when stressed,” states Carmen Sandi, one of the study’s corresponding authors. “Low glucocorticoid levels are frequently observed in PTSD patients following trauma exposure and were initially suspected to be a consequence of trauma exposure.”
Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands in response to stressful situations. The body has two systems that control hormone output: sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest). As you probably guessed, cortisol is released during the fight-or-flight response. Think of the sympathetic nervous system like a gas pedal in a car—hit the pedal, and you trigger the fight-or-flight response, which provides the body with energy to respond to perceived dangers. The parasympathetic nervous system acts like a brake, and until you hit that break—not just release the gas pedal—your body stays in that mode and continues to thrive on cortisol.
In short, researchers of the study suggest that “there’s a direct implication of low glucocorticoid responsiveness in the development of PTSD symptomatology following exposure to traumatic experiences, i.e., impaired fear extinction.”
Takeaway message: A blunted corticosteroid response not only predicts but may also contribute causally to core PTSD symptoms. As such, glucocorticoid treatments may benefit patients with diminished glucocorticoid responsiveness.
When to seek help
Seeking treatment for PTSD can be a difficult task for some people, but nonetheless important. If you’ve experienced a traumatic event and symptoms persist beyond 6 to 8 weeks after the initial incident, it might be time to speak to your healthcare professional.
Here are some signs that it might be time to seek help:
If you have disturbing thoughts about the event for over a month
If those thoughts are severe
If you can’t seem to get back on track after the triggering event
A healthcare professional with experience helping people with PTSD can make an official diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan. Treatment options vary, and not every option will work for everyone; some may also find that a combination of approaches offers the greatest benefit.
Other treatment options do exist, and some drugs can also be prescribed to treat this disorder.
Here’s a breakdown of the four recommended therapy options.
1. Cognitive behavioral therapy
CBT focuses on changing patterns or behaviors, feelings, and thoughts that lead to difficulties in functioning. It focuses on how changes in any one domain can improve functioning in the other domains. The idea behind cognitive behavioral therapy is to encourage patients to re-evaluate their thinking patterns and assumptions to identify unhelpful patterns (“distortions”) in their thinking, such as overgeneralizing bad outcomes, negative thinking that diminishes positive thinking, and expectations of catastrophic outcomes, to more balanced and effective thinking patterns. Put simply, CBT helps an individual reconceptualize their understanding of traumatic experiences, their understanding of themselves, and their ability to cope.
2. Cognitive processing therapy
CPT has been an effective treatment for people with PTSD resulting from rape, child abuse, natural disasters, and combat. This therapy helps patients learn how to challenge and change destructive beliefs related to the trauma. It also helps them create a new understanding of the traumatic event, reducing its negative effects.
3. Cognitive therapy
CT helps alter pessimistic views and memories of trauma to interrupt the behavioral “and/or” thought process that’s interfering with the person’s daily life. It’s delivered in weekly sessions over a few months.
4. Prolonged exposure therapy
PET is a form of behavioral therapy that helps individuals confront their fears. It teaches people to gradually approach their trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations and learn that trauma-related memories and cues are not dangerous and do not need to be avoided. As with most other PTSD therapies, PET typically occurs in weekly sessions over a few months.
Take the time to heal and get stronger
Regardless of the severity, anyone who experiences a workplace injury typically takes time off to allow the injury to heal and return to work as normal. For people struggling with PTSD, seeking treatment often isn’t the immediate course of action as it would be with a workplace injury—it typically takes something significant for them to do so.
If you or someone you know is struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, don’t let it control your or their life. Pay attention to the signs, and don’t be afraid to seek help.
The pain of trauma resulting from PTSD can lead people to destructive behaviors like drinking, drugs, or avoiding everyday situations or people, which can cause havoc in their personal and work relationships. It can put them in a fog where they feel like they’re going about their daily life, not living it.
That ‘haze’ is dangerous for the average person but much more so for construction workers. Construction is dangerous, and lack of awareness and presence can be life-threatening.
As noted, treatments are effective and widely available—it just takes the right steps to get there. Healing from PTSD might be a long road, but it’s worthwhile.
As many ancient philosophers said, it’s important to know yourself. People with untreated PTSD are juggling a sort of psychic (or soulful) duality between their wounded, unhealed soul and their tenacious soul plugging away at life. For those who choose to heal, PTSD treatment will bring together those two halves of the soul to revive a stronger, healthier person.
In addition, by uniting these contradictory elements of a person’s psyche into a healthy whole, the person will become stronger-willed and more focused by not being driven by negative emotions. They also may come to see themselves as strong, as survivors, or as tenacious and perhaps even courageous.
ScaffSource provides sales and rentals of scaffolding and shoring equipment to the construction sector through a network of U.S. locations. The company sets itself apart as a service-focused group by offering 3D-designed, tailored solutions to suit contractors’ needs and even materials procurement from manufacturers.
Skyward corporate growth
Since its purchase in 2019, ScaffSource has seen a strong vision for its future.
Launched in 1992 under the name United Scaffolding Inc., the company acquired three other scaffolding companies by 1998. In 2019, it was bought by American Industrial Partners and rebranded as ScaffSource in 2022.
With nine U.S. locations, many partners and suppliers, 17 million pieces of scaffolding in its inventory, and a fully stocked inventory of shoring equipment, ScaffSource has made a name for itself as one of the most reputable scaffolding suppliers in the nation. Part of its salability is its nimbleness—ScaffSource provides equipment from product yards across the U.S. and several manufacturers and materials suppliers nationwide.
The company isn’t just an equipment and materials supplier—they also offer other services to support their customers, such as help with planning, erecting, and using scaffolding and shoring materials and equipment. Projects are planned with the help of ScaffSource professionals, who will be on-site when the customer needs it. Customers receive a 3D model of the planned setup and their scaffolding and/or shoring equipment order. Materials planning, procurement, and other details are also planned with the model, allowing customers to focus more on labor management, safety, access, and materials use.
The company’s rapid growth over the decades shows the success of its customer-first business strategy—this is a brand that delivers, and they’re repaid with customer loyalty.
Most of ScaffSource’s clientele are repeat customers, said Earl Mclunkin, Director of National Accounts for ScaffSource. “Our biggest value is honesty. It’s how you gain that trust from the [client] company, and eventually, the loyalty,” Mclunkin said.
Consistent inventory upgrades
Scaffolding and shoring concerns are, first and foremost, matters of safety. That’s partly why ScaffSource continually strives to provide the best solutions for customers and invests in its equipment.
ScaffSource regularly upgrades its inventory to provide the best possible equipment and solutions. In the last several years, the company has replaced more than 4.5 million new pieces of inventory. While doing so, ScaffSource also upped its inventory in adjustable toe boards, galvanized clamps, low-profile planks, and other items.
Loyal customers deserve the best (and safest) the market offers.
Shored up in a call
When it comes to providing shoring items, ScaffSource offers many solutions for new construction builds. It also offers items for demolition work, infrastructure improvement jobs, and other projects. The idea behind the full array of solutions provided is to make the process as painless and quick as possible for the customer by working with experienced ScaffSource professionals who know the business and how to stage and execute jobs.
Just one customer call to ScaffSource, and a chat with a rep to describe the project and needs, and the solution is on the way to the customer, sometimes within just a few days. The company will spec out special materials and equipment for a customer and order items directly from one of the many manufacturers it sources from.
Rush jobs are also possible, like delivery of equipment on Monday morning after the request was made the Friday night before. Though not always feasible in every case, ScaffSource will always try to deliver.
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