On the jobsite, we know that distractions are a safety risk. When your mind is preoccupied with your finances, your stress rises and your risk increases. Research shows that people with debt are twice as likely to experience mental health issues. Often, finances can impact our physical and emotional well-being. This stress can lead to distraction and reduced productivity at work. In this surprise under-the-couch-cushion mini-boom, we are discussing financial wellness and tips for taking care ...
Jan 16
7 min
Boom Goes The Stigma is closing out the year with a 2025 retrospective as we rev up for 2026. We discuss our outreach across the country, share our successes, and get honest about the challenges. This episode is packed with program introspection, because looking back is on the road ahead! Construction Careline If you want to talk with someone about personal or professional challenges, the Construction Careline is a confidential, non-judgmental, and safe space to get support. Call ...
Dec 31, 2025
38 min
As we head into the holiday, this episode marks our last mini-boom. For our season finale, we tackle loneliness. Loneliness is the negative feeling that arises when you crave human connection. While we all feel lonely at times, chronic loneliness—especially when linked to depression and anxiety—can isolate us and lead to a downward spiral in our thoughts. People experiencing suicidal thoughts often feel incredibly alone in their struggles. With suicide rates rising in the construction i...
Dec 1, 2025
9 min
This month's mini-boom is on Mindful Breathing. This is a practical and free tool that can be used at any time. Mindful breathing is a powerful strategy to help you focus on the present moment. Focusing on your breath involves observing each inhale and exhale. This practice can reduce stress by lowering your heart rate and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system (the body's calming system). While it may seem easy to "just breathe," stressful or threatening situations often ca...
Oct 3, 2025
5 min
This month’s mini-boom focuses on four ways to prevent suicide. The construction industry has the second-highest suicide rate compared to other occupations. Given these sobering statistics, it is crucial to address this issue and implement strategies to prevent our workers from dying by suicide. We lay out how to break stigma, recognize warning signs, reach out and connect, and know your resources. Construction Careline If you want to talk with somebody about personal and professional challen...
Sep 3, 2025
6 min
A holistic approach to safety, embracing the body/mind connection, paying attention to our thoughts, valuing sleep, and eating well. Numerous distractions abound in our job sites. Construction sites are not wellness retreats, but there are ways to sharpen our focus and ease mental tensions. On and outside the construction site, we will never control everything that happens, but we can develop a present-focused mindset that increases our cognitive flexibility, enhances our connections, and imp...
Aug 7, 2025
7 min
In construction, we rely on Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) to respond to incidents on the job site. When it comes to individual struggles with mental health, professional relationships, finances, and overall health and wellness, there is another EAP that can help us navigate through these issues. It is called an Employee Assistance Program. EAPs. EAPs are confidential services that can assist you in resolving personal problems that are impacting your work performance. Think of EAPs as your eme...
Jun 30, 2025
4 min
We know that sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle, but in the construction industry, getting quality sleep can be challenging due to long work hours, shift changes, family responsibilities, and commuting. Sleep affects our mental and physical health, as well as our ability to work safely. Lack of sleep contributed to catastrophic workplace accidents like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the Challenger Explosion. Sleep deprivation contributes to 1 in 10 job site accidents, so it is ...
Jun 5, 2025
6 min
This mini-boom podcast on Mental Health and Safety highlights the importance of treating mental health with the same focus and intensity as physical health. In the United States, 1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition. With construction having one of the highest suicide rates, it's essential to check in with your coworkers and crew and demonstrate care about their well-being. Often, simply being present and listening can make a significant difference when helping someone in need....
May 1, 2025
5 min
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