NSCA Foundation

Supporting stressed mates during festive season


Friday, 17 November, 2017

Supporting stressed mates during festive season

The lead-up to Christmas can be a stressful time for many workers across various industries.

In particular, construction and mining workers are susceptible to stress and workplace injuries during this time.

Building projects winding down during the Christmas break can cause financial hardship for those living from week to week. On the flip side, other projects continue through the Christmas period, leading to separation for workers and their families, particularly those who work in fly-in fly-out (FIFO) operations.

Charity MATES in Construction has provided some useful advice for workers who may find themselves in a stressful situation in the lead-up to or during the Christmas/New Year period:

  • Get out and mix with others if you are alone. Linking up with others and getting together to make things happen can be beneficial.
  • Do something for others less fortunate by volunteering to help charities/homeless people.
  • For the religious, simply attending the local church for Christmas services may help.

Operations Manager John Brady said workers have an essential role in supporting mates who may be doing it tough over this period, offering the following tips:

  • If you know this is the first Christmas for a mate without a loved one, or without children due to relationship breakdown, or other stressful events, it is good to make contact with them to check they are okay.
  • Changes in normal behaviour for a colleague are also a clue that all is not right with them.
  • Trust your gut instinct — if you feel a mate is not doing so well, you should see if you can offer some support. Sometimes just a chat with a friend can be enough to assure them they are not alone with the difficulties and challenges they may be experiencing.

WorkCover Queensland Customer Group Executive Melanie Stojanovic said claims for workplace injuries also typically rise in the lead-up to Christmas.

“We think people are getting worn out towards the end of the year, and they don’t concentrate as much, which leads to mistakes,” she said.

“There’s also the possibility that in a rush to finish off tasks leading up to the end of the year, people again let concentration slip and mistakes happen.

“We seem to get a lot of simple accidents, such as slips, trips and falls around this time of year.”

The MATES in Construction helpline will be operating over Christmas and the New Year: 1300 MIC 111 (1300 642 111).

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Robert Kneschke

NSCA Foundation is a member based, non-profit organisation working together with members to improve workplace health and safety throughout Australia. For more information and membership details click here
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