CLC Publishes New Mental Health Joint Code of Practice to Support Healthier Working Environments

The CLC has published a new Mental Health Joint Code of Practice to support businesses in construction to create healthier working environments that prevent or reduce mental health risks. This work was spearheaded for the CLC by The Department for Business and Trade, Heathrow, The Crown Estate, BAM UK and Ireland, Mates In Mind and The University of Warwick and supported by their partners Marsh, BCLP and the New Hospital Programme.

With the focus on how work is designed, planned, resourced and managed, the Code is structured around five workplace factors that impact mental health. The core primary causes impacting the workforce’s mental health, as considered by the Code, are:

• Working patterns – e.g. long hours, excessive travel
• People factors and work environment – welfare, dignity and respect
• Operational factors – e.g. commercial pressure
• Barriers to mental health support – e.g. stigma, low mental health literacy
• Financial factors – e.g. late payments, financial insecurity

The Code is designed as a catalyst and living framework to address these five key hazards. CLC describes it as ‘a credible baseline now, which will be strengthened over time through shared learning, data and realworld case studies’.

Alongside the Code, the BSI has recently published BS 30480: Suicide and the Workplace, which provides guidance for companies on supporting employees when prevention efforts reach their limit and intervention is needed. It covers identifying and managing suicide risk in the workplace, strengthening workplace policies and culture around suicide awareness, appropriate training for staff, and supporting individuals in distress.