Safety is the No. 1 focus among contractors, producers, manufacturers and everyone throughout the construction materials industry – and for good reason.
The work done in this industry is crucial yet often dangerous. Working in and around heavy machinery and dealing with loads of heavy, moving material puts people’s bodies and lives on the line every day.
Recently, the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) reported that the total recordable industry rate throughout mining reached an all-time low in 2025 (1.74 per 200,000 hours worked). At the same time, MSHA reported 33 fatalities last year, up from the 28 recorded in 2024.
Injuries and, in worst-case scenarios, fatalities, are clear indicators of miners’ health and safety.
But what about a danger that can’t be seen and is harder to measure?
A silent threat
As prominently as safety is talked about among construction materials industry professionals, there’s a topic that is much harder to talk about and, therefore, addressed far less frequently: mental health.
Part of what makes mental health such a hard topic to discuss, especially in this industry, is the stigma surrounding it. By talking about what you’re feeling or telling someone you’re struggling, there is the fear of being seen as “weak” or “less than.” But just as injuries and fatalities are benchmarks for the physical well-being of construction professionals, the statistics relating to the mental well-being of construction workers is, perhaps, even more staggering.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), more than 5,000 people working in construction die by suicide each year. That amounts to 12 to 16 workers per day. Comparatively, the CDC says that is five times the number of annual construction jobsite fatalities.
Slowly but sure, the the industry is working to remove the stigma around mental health.
ConExpo-Con/Agg recently partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to raise funds and awareness for construction industry mental health. Through the partnership, more than $112,000 was raised to support suicide prevention and mental health awarness initiatives.
“The construction industry is built on people, and supporting their well-being is essential to the future of our workforce,” says Dana Wuesthoff, show director for ConExpo-Con/Agg. “Our partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention helped bring important conversations about mental health to the forefront while also providing meaningful resources for the men and women who power this industry every day.”
It’s OK to not be OK. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. You can call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988) to talk with a trained professional.
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