While physical safety dominates industry priorities, mental wellbeing often lags behind. In a sector where suicide tragically outnumbers fatalities from falls, the disparity is stark. Recognising this, portable building specialist Wernick and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) have partnered to bring practical mental health support directly onto construction sites.
The solution is simple yet powerful: over 20,000 discreet stickers featuring QR codes have been produced and are now being installed inside welfare cabins across the UK. Scanning a code offers immediate, confidential access to the CIOB Assist platform—without needing to contact a manager, download an app, or search online.
With Wernick Hire supplying up to 3,000 units each month, the initiative’s potential reach is in the tens of thousands. Furthermore, Wernick Buildings has extended the scheme to its Kenfig manufacturing site in Wales, ensuring consistency across its operations.
Integrating Mental Health into Site Infrastructure
“This is about more than signposting,” says Mark Harrison, CIOB’s head of EDI transformation. “It’s about embedding mental health support into the industry’s physical spaces.” Too often, mental wellbeing is treated as an ‘off-site’ issue or delegated to HR departments. By integrating support into everyday site infrastructure, this initiative challenges that norm.
Construction environments are high-pressure, fast-paced, and rarely allow time for long support calls. Offering a quick, private route to help—through a simple QR scan—addresses accessibility in a realistic, site-friendly way.
A Model for Industry-Wide Change
The positive response from site workers and management alike has already sparked broader interest. The Modular and Portable Building Association is now exploring ways to promote the initiative across the sector. Notably, Wernick’s open presentation of the concept to competitors and partners reflects the collaborative spirit such a critical issue demands.
The message is clear: mental health should be as visible and accessible on site as hard hats and harnesses. By embedding support into welfare cabins and other everyday spaces, the industry can begin to tackle its silent mental health crisis—one scan at a time.
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