BACKGROUND: Construction workers are a population that is at risk for mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and even suicide due to the high stress and physical demands of their work. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for depression, anxiety, and stress among Bangladeshi construction workers.
METHODS: From February 2022 to June 2022, community-based cross-sectional research was conducted among construction workers. Survey data was gathered using interviewer administered questionnaires with 502 participants from the construction sites. Data were collected based on the information related to socio-demographics, lifestyle, occupation, health hazards, and mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress). The results were interpreted using the chi-square test and logistic regression utilizing SPSS statistical software.
RESULTS: The study revealed the prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress among construction workers to be 17.9%, 30.3%, and 12%, respectively. Key findings indicate that construction workers who maintained a healthy sleep duration were 64% less likely to be depressed compared to those with poor sleep (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.21-0.61, p<0.001). Workers who did not experience breathing issues upon starting construction work had a 45% lower likelihood of experiencing depression (AOR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.32-0.97, p = 0.037) and an 82% lower likelihood of experiencing anxiety (AOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.11-0.30, p<0.001). Bricklayer construction workers were 72% less likely to experience stress (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.08-0.95, p = 0.041), and workers without breathing issues after starting construction work were 66% less likely to experience stress (AOR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.17-0.66, p = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The study found that depression, anxiety, and stress are prevalent among construction workers in Bangladesh, with breathing issues as a significant risk factor. Thus, there is a need for effective measures to reduce these problems and provide a safe working environment for construction workers to ensure their productivity and the country\'s overall growth.

Fatigue is one of the menaces that contribute to the rising number of construction-related accidents and fatalities in projects. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify several strategies that can be adopted to mitigate fatigue in construction projects. This was achieved through a quantitative study. A questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection in the quantitative study. The study revealed that frustration/depression or work pressure is one of the significant causes of fatigue in construction projects. Fatigue risk management education and bonding among workers are some of the underlying strategies that can be used to mitigate the identified causes. Depending on the nature of the fatigue causative elements, the study further established that some mitigation strategies are more effective than others. Therefore, further studies should be conducted by prospective researchers on a range of attributes that may influence the success of fatigue mitigation strategies in construction projects.

Diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is carcinogenic and potentially hazardous for those working in close proximity to diesel-powered machines. This study characterizes workplace exposure to DEE and its associated particulate matter (PM) during outdoor construction activities. We sampled at 4 construction sites in the Copenhagen metropolitan area. We used portable constant-flow pumps and quartz-fiber filters to quantify personal exposure to elemental carbon (EC), and used real-time instruments to collect activity-based information about particle number and size distribution, as well as black carbon (BC) concentration. Full-shift measurements of EC concentration ranged from < 0.3 to 6.4 µg/m3. Geometric mean (GM) EC exposure was highest for ground workers (3.4 µg/m3 EC; geometric standard deviation, GSD = 1.3), followed by drilling rig operators (2.6 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 1.4). Exposure for non-drilling-rig machine operators (1.2 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 2.9) did not differ significantly from background (0.9 µg/m3 EC; GSD = 1.7). The maximum 15-min moving average concentration of BC was 17 µg/m3, and the highest recorded peak concentration was 44 µg/m3. In numbers, the particle size distributions were dominated by ultrafine particles ascribed to DEE and occasional welding activities at the sites. The average total particle number concentrations (PNCs) measured in near-field and far-field positions across all worksites were 10,600 (GSD = 3.0) and 6,000 (GSD = 2.8)/cm3, respectively. Sites with active drilling rigs saw significantly higher average total PNCs at their near-field stations (13,600, 32,000, and 9,700/cm3; GSD = 2.4, 3.4, and 2.4) than sites without (4,700/cm3; GSD = 1.6). Overall, the DEE exposures at these outdoor construction sites were below current occupational exposure limits for EC (10 µg/m3 in Denmark; 50 µg/m3 in the European Union), but extended durations of exposure to the observed DEE levels may still be a health risk.

In numerous developing nations, challenges such as insufficient investment in innovation and limited capabilities for conversion impede the growth of the construction sector, thus affecting the overall economic well-being of these regions. This paper focuses on construction industry innovation (CII) and its correlation with region economic development (RED), providing valuable insights to overcome these challenges and promote sustainable economic advancement. This study references existing literature to devise an evaluation indicator system dedicated for CII and RED. It then proceeds with an empirical analysis of the integration and synergy between CII and the economic development across 31 Chinese provinces from 2012 to 2021. Furthermore, this paper employs ArcGIS and Geoda software to meticulously dissect the spatial distribution characteristics underlying this coordination. The main conclusions are succinctly summarized as follows: CII in China is intricately connected to RED, exhibiting a strong connection that diminishes from south to north. Nonetheless, the coordination level between these factors remains relatively low, with notable regional disparities, particularly from southeast to northwest. The primary obstacles to effective coordination are related to innovation input, output, and economic scale. Additionally, spatial correlation analysis demonstrates pronounced regional clustering, showing stability despite slight fluctuations over the study period. This research underscores the concept of coupling coordination between CII and RED, underpinned by scientific analytical methods. The outcomes provide a definitive guide for advancing the transformation and enhancement of the construction industry while promoting RED.

Circular bio-based building materials (CBBMs) provide a potential solution to reduce the climate impacts of buildings and offer opportunities to transition the construction industry to a circular model. Promoting the use of these materials can also bring economic, environmental, and social benefits from valorising biowaste and by-products from other sectors. Despite their potential, CBBMs have not received sufficient attention globally, and their adoption is hindered by various barriers. However, it is unclear what the CBBMs\' use status is, what adoption barriers exist, how these barriers interact, and what should be done to address them. This study addresses these knowledge gaps through a systematic study using mixed methods to investigate the adoption status and barriers to these materials in developed economies by using a specific case analysis in Flanders. The data analysis results show that hemp-based, cork-based, and straw-based materials are the most used, while the market for CBBMs is very limited in the region. Twenty-three potential adoption barriers were identified and selected from the existing literature, then ranked based on their mean scores. The t-test analysis helps to identify 13 critical barriers, which are grouped into five categories, including cost and risk-related barriers, technical and cultural-related barriers, the government\'s role-related barriers, information and quality-related barriers, and market-related barriers. Among them, cost and risk-related barriers, including \"concern about the high initial cost\", \"risks and uncertainties involved in adopting new materials\", and \"perception of the extra cost being incurred\", are the three most critical barriers to CBBM adoption in Flanders. Kendall\'s W test shows good consensus among the two expert groups-with and without hands-on experience in utilising CBBMs-in their rankings of the barriers. Meanwhile, the Mann-Whitney U test indicates no statistically significant differences in the ranks of barriers between the two expert groups. The interview results confirm almost all survey results and provide deeper insights into the status and barriers to adopting these materials. Practical and policy implications are discussed based on these findings to inform policy deliberations on promoting CBBMs. This study may also be a good reference for scholars and industry practitioners to better understand issues impacting decision-making towards the adoption of CBBMs in the construction industry.

Increasingly, information technology facilitates the storage and management of data useful for risk analysis and event prediction. Studies on data extraction related to occupational health and safety are increasingly available; however, due to its variability, the construction sector warrants special attention. This review is conducted under the research programs of the National Institute for Occupational Accident Insurance (Inail).
OBJECTIVE: The research question focuses on identifying which data mining (DM) methods, among supervised, unsupervised, and others, are most appropriate for certain investigation objectives, types, and sources of data, as defined by the authors.
METHODS: Scopus and ProQuest were the main sources from which we extracted studies in the field of construction, published between 2014 and 2023. The eligibility criteria applied in the selection of studies were based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). For exploratory purposes, we applied hierarchical clustering, while for in-depth analysis, we used principal component analysis (PCA) and meta-analysis.
RESULTS: The search strategy based on the PRISMA eligibility criteria provided us with 63 out of 2234 potential articles, 206 observations, 89 methodologies, 4 survey purposes, 3 data sources, 7 data types, and 3 resource types. Cluster analysis and PCA organized the information included in the paper dataset into two dimensions and labels: \"supervised methods, institutional dataset, and predictive and classificatory purposes\" (correlation 0.97-8.18 × 10-1; p-value 7.67 × 10-55-1.28 × 10-22) and the second, Dim2 \"not-supervised methods; project, simulation, literature, text data; monitoring, decision-making processes; machinery and environment\" (corr. 0.84-0.47; p-value 5.79 × 10-25--3.59 × 10-6). We answered the research question regarding which method, among supervised, unsupervised, or other, is most suitable for application to data in the construction industry.
CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis provided an overall estimate of the better effectiveness of supervised methods (Odds Ratio = 0.71, Confidence Interval 0.53-0.96) compared to not-supervised methods.

The Ghanaian construction industry faces challenges in managing safety, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that need more resources. This research addressed the critical need for a positive safety culture framework specifically designed for SMEs in Ghana. The study adopts the Delphi research approach, which involves a series of questionnaire \'rounds\' to gather and refine information and develop a collaborative safety culture framework with SME stakeholders. The study employed a mixed-methods strategy, harnessing quantitative and qualitative data to meet the research goals. The critical components of the developed framework included safety commitment, adaptability, information, awareness, culture, and performance. The research offered evidence-based recommendations for effective positive safety practices across Ghana\'s SMEs by analysing the relationship between these interventions and safety outcomes. Applying the framework should reduce workplace accidents and foster a positive safety culture that aligns with international best practices.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore perceptions of mental ill health, suicidal behaviour and working conditions among male construction workers, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of these phenomenon and to identify relevant avenues for workplace interventions.
METHODS: Data were collected in individual and group interviews, and 43 individuals from the Swedish construction industry, workers, union representative and managers, participated in the study. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
RESULTS: Five main themes were found: Difficult to talk about mental health, Demanding working environment affects mental health, Substance abuse among construction workers, Importance of management, and Need for routines and social support in the workplace. Many participants reported that there was a stigma related to mental health. Suicides that had occurred among colleagues were perceived to come out of the blue. The working environment in the construction industry was perceived to have a negative effect on mental health, and it was reported that the management played an important role in both the cause and prevention of mental health problems.
CONCLUSIONS: The results from this Swedish study are in accordance with previous international research regarding a macho culture, stigma of mental health and a demanding working environment in the construction industry. The study adds to existing knowledge by highlighting that suicides were perceived to be very unexpected, that poor physical health affected mental health and that many participants did not know how to deal with mental health issues in the workplace.

Airborne respirable crystalline silica (RCS) has been a widely recognized hazard in the United States for nearly 100 years, yet it continues to pose a risk to construction tradespersons, among others. RCS exposures vary widely depending on site conditions and tools and materials used. The proper use of engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls can effectively reduce exposure to RCS. Historically, others have reviewed available RCS exposure data among construction trades and reported that there were considerable data gaps and variability that needed to be addressed. This current assessment aimed to synthesize available peer-reviewed exposure studies to determine potential RCS exposures during the use of common construction materials and evaluate to what extent data gaps and variability persist. Twenty-eight studies were identified that reported RCS exposure during construction tasks. After conversion to the unit of µg/m3, reported measurements from samples collected for varying durations ranged from 6.0 to 75,500 µg/m3 for work with concrete, 80 to 4,240 µg/m3 for work with brick, <59 to 10,900 µg/m3 for work with mortar, 90 to 44,370 µg/m3 for work with engineered stone, and 70 to 380 µg/m3 for work with roof tile. To better facilitate pooling data across studies, future researchers should report their sample duration, clarify how time-weighted average (TWA) exposure data are calculated, report the silica content of the material being manipulated, and specify whether samples were collected while the task was performed in isolation or on a worksite where other silica-containing materials were also actively handled. When reporting results as respirable quartz, it is important to note whether any other polymorphic forms of silica were detected. It is ultimately the employer\'s responsibility to train employees and monitor and control RCS exposures on construction worksites. To do this effectively, it is important to have a clear understanding of the tasks, materials, and site conditions where intervention is most urgently needed.

Contractors\' low-carbon construction behaviors (CLCB) are pivotal in advancing decarbonization during the construction phase. However, there exists a notable gap in the comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted factors and mechanisms influencing CLCB. Therefore, this study aims to systematically identify the factors influencing CLCB in China, examine the interrelationships among these factors, and pinpoint the key determinants. Based on topic modeling of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), influencing factors are identified firstly from the pertinent literature. Subsequently, the causality degree and centrality degree between these factors are assessed by the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), followed by the establishment of a hierarchical structure using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method, culminating in the identification of pivotal factors. Findings reveal that (1) 21 influential factors influencing CLCB are identified. (2) \"Incentive policies for relevant stakeholders\" and \"Low-carbon regulation and supervision\" emerge as key influences. (3) CLCB should be guided by policy and subjective awareness, fortified by market and management support, underpinned by technology, and directly driven by economic considerations. This research furnishes valuable insights for promoting low-carbon development during the construction phase, thereby assisting the construction sector in achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.