OCTOBER 2025CONSTRUCTIONTECHREVIEW.COM19A lot of the work carried out by the trades will require an "able" body, there is a lack of acknowledgement of neurodiversity and disability within the construction industry.When it comes to the tools used, there are some great innovations now being used on sites to reduce manual handling, minimise exposure to vibrations and exposure to dust and chemicals. On high profile projects, thanks to sustainability and wellbeing related accreditation requirements such as BREEAM, LEED, SKA and WELL, there is a reduction of use of Volatile Organic Compound emitting materials and initiatives like cleaning and maintenance of ductworks during the construction phase, however these are all done focusing on the end user rather than the workers building the project. There has been a welcome push recently to allow spaces such as neurodiverse rooms on construction sites, though arguably these can make the users of these spaces feel like they are signposting themselves as different. Accreditations that office building owners can chase like health and wellbeing oriented WELL have brought a lot of understanding to architectural and interior designers with regards to requirement of different work settings such as quite spaces, collaboration areas and lone working, however, these have not necessarily made it to the construction site set-ups yet.In my experience, Overbury ensures that design managers with architectural and interior design experience are consulted in order to create optimum work conditions at our site set-ups. In the past I have seen site set-ups designed with rows and rows of desks reminding one of a stuffed sardine can, with lack of consideration towards ergonomics and inclusive design, inadequate lighting and minimal consideration towards thermal comfort and air quality. The introduction of different work settings would allow the users the choice and control over the work environment that work best for their requirements, giving flexibility to neurodiverse individuals to feel comfortable in their work atmosphere. A lot of corporate businesses chase creating highly inclusive and wellbeing enhancing work atmospheres to retain and attract the biggest talent within their market, when it comes to the construction of such spaces, construction workers haven't previously had access to the same environment and find themselves having to use back entrances in the pursuit of making them "invisible" to the other users of the building. I remember in such an instance having to climb 5 floors to go down 2 to reach our site set-up in a multi-tenant building.I think the world of construction should start working hand in hand - clients, the authorities, designers, main contractors, and the subcontractors - to ensure that the site set-up conditions created for the construction workers match what is provided for the end users. Once the industry acknowledges the value in this approach and start working together as one with builders in mind, we will keep seeing workspaces that elevate wellbeing which further support and uplift the hands that laid the foundations. I think the world of construction should start working hand in hand - clients, the authorities, designers, main contractors and the subcontractors - to ensure that the site set-up conditions created for the construction workers match what is provided for the end users
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