Assessing the Physical and Psychological Well-being of Construction Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective This prospective study aimed to assess the physical and psychological health of construction workers and examine the relationship between their well-being and the preventive measures implemented against SARS-CoV-2. Methods During occupational visit the workers were invited to participate the survey. Two measurements were made and compared: after the Italian lockdown and on the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Results 53 workers participated in the study. The percentage of workers who considered themselves in good health increased from 66.0% to 81.1% and there was a significant decrease in the GHQ-12 score (16.8 vs 14.0; p = 0.0003). This reduction was associated to a higher perception of security by preventive measures. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of addressing the health and safety concerns of construction workers during the pandemic, and the positive impact of effective preventive measures.