Workplaces and Substance Use: Construction Industry

Provides key context, data, and recommendations on improving the substance use health of employees for employers and other partners (e.g., unions, associations, health professionals) in the construction industry, based on input from the focus group study with workers from the construction industry. This brief is part of the Workplaces and Substance Use series.

Three key points of interest you will find in the document:

• About 3 in 10 (33%) construction workers and managers in safety-sensitive positions, and 2 in 10 (18%) construction workers and managers in non-safety-sensitive positions reported consuming alcohol or other drugs within two hours before or during work, or being hungover, intoxicated or feeling high while at work.
• Around 1 in 5 construction workers and managers thought that it was generally acceptable in their work culture to consume alcohol (22%) or cannabis (18%) before or during work.
• Additionally, between 11% and 42% of participants in construction thought that substance use was an issue in their workplace.