The Construction Workers' Perspectives on Occupational Stress in the South African Construction Industry

<p dir="ltr"><i>This study aimed to identify the construction workers' perspectives on the most stressful activities on construction sites and their perceived interventions. This qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted among large general contractors in South Africa. A survey questionnaire with open-ended questions was administered to the construction workers, specifically focusing on general labourers and trades personnel/artisans. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data. This method allowed for identifying key themes and patterns within the responses. Each response was carefully reviewed and coded to categorise the various stressors and perceived intervention strategies. The findings revealed that the most common stressors were pressure to perform, unfair remunerations, excessive workload, job insecurity, poor health and safety, lack of resources and management-related issues such as unrealistic expectations and poor communication. The construction workers proposed improved communication, a supportive work environment, and professional services such as counselling and clean workplaces as probable interventions for alleviating stress-related issues. This study is important because the construction industry faces pressing issues concerning occupational stress that adversely impact the well-being and performance of workers. Despite the industry's inherent demands and challenges, there is a notable lack of systematic understanding and targeted interventions to address occupational stressors. It is particularly important that many of the occupational stress studies have focused mostly on construction professionals, and there have been relatively few studies published on causes of stress among construction workers, more so in the context of developing countries such as South Africa.</i></p>