b'Enzo Garritano. The mandate of IHSA includes working withTraining for managers and employees is vital, says Toronto-industries to reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illnessesbased consultant Julian Toy, president of Addiction Consultants by implementing H&S measures. Psychological health is anin Recovery. Toy trains workers to recognize subtle signs and important area of our work. The challenge is getting seniorsymptoms of substance dependence, advising them on how executives to understand the scope of the problem and theto report it in a legally valid way and how to intervene. Any steps needed to implement a mental health program in company that hasnt implemented a policy is in danger because their business. its a human-rights issue, he says. If I self-declare, you have an obligation as an employer to accommodate me up to the point of Another organization in Ontario working in the mental healthundue hardship. area is Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW). OHCOW, together with the Canadian Centre forWhat can be done? is a question everyone in the industry Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), conducts an annualneeds to ask them themselves, because mental health is a survey on mental health in the workplace called StressAssess.growing problem and its not going away any time soon. As Bill This evidence-based online tool is designed to assist companiesHowatt of the Conference Board of Canada explains: We know in identifying and preventing psychosocial hazards that canprevalence rates for mental health issues and illness across all lead to stress and mental injury. The survey is free for anysectors are approximately 20 per cent. By 2030, it is predicted organization that wants to participate.that mental health issues will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Craig Lesurf, vice president and business group leader at Walsh Canada, is actively involved in Canadas Safety Month initiative,In British Columbia, Donna Grant, a marketer at Scott which takes place every May. He notes that trades are slowlyConstruction Group, has been actively getting the word out being provided with more tools to address the problem and takeabout the importance of addressing mental health in Canadas action, and that in Ontario there are also repercussions if theyconstruction trade, presenting on the topic at various events. dont. The Ontario government recognized chronic mental stressShe says she has been overwhelmed by the response to her as compensable in January 2018, he points out.presentations and the sobering numbers showing the scope of Now that the WSIB is allowing claims for chronic mental stress,the problem. In the Lower Mainland, one in four fentanyl deaths its an item that can go against your safety record, says Lesurf.are fully employed construction workers, says Grant.Previously, we should have cared about it, and some of us did.Moving construction companies towards implementing Now that it can go onto your CAD-7 rating, you need to havepsychological health programs requires resources to assist,a proper mental stress policy. You need to have an internaland uptake on such action is only beginning in theprocess so people can reach out for help. construction sector.TRAINING SOLUTIONS There are a number of organizations that can provide this help, Experts indicate there are three types of training that workplacesboth for employers and workers. These include IHSA, WSPS, the need in place to promote psychological health and safety:Mental Health Commission of Canada, the federal governments they need to equip workers with awareness of psychologicalMental Health in the Workplace program, the Canadian Mental challenges and where they can go for help; instil leaders withHealth Association and Canada Lifes Workplace Strategies for an understanding of the issue and how to identify workers whoMental Health, a self assessment tool for workers.are having problems; and train leaders on how to integrate psychological health measures into the companys larger CMHA offers a two-day Certified Psychological Health and Safety H&S program. Advisor program as well as the Mental Health Commission One prominent organization in Ontario offering psychologicalof Canadas online toolbox for the National Standard for health training is Workplace Safety & Prevention ServicesPsychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, complete with (WSPS). WSPS is working with its clients to have them revisecase studies of companies that have already implemented the their H&S programs to include both physical and psychologicalstandard in their businesses.hazards. They assist companies with training programs, consulting services, workplace mental health programAnother resource that is starting to be embraced by construction development, workshops and conferences. companies is the Life Recovery Program (LRP), which provides education and support to people with addiction and WSPSs mental health training programs include Workplacemental health issues. It is designed to fill the mental health Mental Health Awareness, How Managers Should Respond,and addiction gaps in current programs available through What Health and Safety Committees Should Know, Mentalgovernment bodies and provides immediate and anonymous Health First Aid and Implementing the National Standard ontreatment to individuals and family members struggling with Psychological H&S workshops. The CSA standard Z1003-2013addiction and mental health. Construction associations in Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace contains well- Waterloo, Calgary and Edmonton have LRP as a service for their thought-out benchmarks for programs on psychological health. members and staff. Determining the health of workers is no longer just aboutUltimately, the construction industry needs to work at having a assessing their physical health. Both physical and mental healthbetter understanding of psychological health and how to manage interplay in the workplace. Mental problems can put a workerit in the workplace.as much at risk as physical ones. A hazard, whether physical or mental, is still a hazard. Article prepared with input and files from Sarah B. Hood.BUILDERSDIGEST Quarter 4 201917'