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While stress, anxiety and depression rank as the second leading cause of work-related ill health in the UK construction sector, there exists a scarcity of empirical studies explicitly focused on investigating the sources of occupational stress among construction workers and professionals at both the construction project and supply chain levels. This study seeks to identify and investigate the primary stressors (sources of stress) in UK construction projects and to propose effective strategies for preventing or reducing stress in this context.

The study adopted a qualitative multi-methods research approach, comprising the use of a comprehensive literature review, case study interviews and a focus group. It utilised an integrated deductive-inductive approach theory building using NVivo software. In total, 19 in-depth interviews were conducted as part of the case-study with a well-rounded sample of construction professionals and trade supervisors, followed by a focus group with 12 policy influencers and sector stakeholders to evaluate the quality and transferability of the findings of the study.

The results reveal seven main stressors and 35 influencing factors within these 7 areas of stress in a UK construction project, with “workflow interruptions” emerging as the predominant stressor. In addition, the results of the focus-group, which was conducted with a sample of 12 prominent industry experts and policy influencers, indicate that the findings of the case study are transferrable and could be applicable to other construction projects and contexts. It is, therefore, recommended that these potential stressors be addressed by the project team as early as possible in construction projects. Additionally, the study sheds empirical light on the limitations of the critical path method and identifies “inclusive and collaborative planning” as a proactive strategy for stress prevention and/or reduction in construction projects.

The findings of this study are mainly based on the perspectives of construction professionals at managerial and supervisory levels. It is, therefore, suggested that future studies are designed to focus on capturing the experiences and opinions of construction workers/operatives on the site.

The findings from this study have the potential to assist decision-makers in the prevention of stress within construction projects, ultimately enhancing workforce performance. It is suggested that the findings could be adapted for use as Construction Supply Chain Management Standards to improve occupational stress management and productivity in construction projects. The study also provides decision-makers and practitioners with a conceptual framework that includes a list of effective strategies for stress prevention or reduction at both project and organisational levels. It also contributes to practice by offering novel ideas for incorporating occupational stress and mental health considerations into production planning and control processes in construction.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first, or one of the very few studies, to explore the concept of occupational stress in construction at the project and supply chain levels. It is also the first study to reveal “workflow” as a predominant stressor in construction projects. It is, therefore, suggested that both academic and industry efforts should focus on finding innovative ways to enhance workflow and collaboration in construction projects, to improve the productivity, health and well-being of their workforce and supply chain. Further, it is suggested that policymakers should consider the potential for incorporating “workflow” into the HSE's Management Standards for stress prevention and management.

Millions of properties have suspended timber ground floors globally, with around ten million in the UK alone. However, it is unknown what the floor void conditions are, nor the effect of insulating such floors. Upgrading floors changes the void conditions, which might increase or decrease moisture build-up and mould and fungal growth. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the current global evidence and present the results of in situ monitoring of 15 UK floor voids.

An extensive literature review on the moisture behaviour in both uninsulated and insulated suspended timber crawl spaces is supplemented with primary data of a monitoring campaign during different periods between 2012 and 2015. Air temperature and relative humidity sensors were placed in different floor void locations. Where possible, crawl spaces were visually inspected.

Comparison of void conditions to mould growth thresholds highlights that a large number of monitored floor voids might exceed the critical ranges for mould growth, leading to potential occupant health impacts if mould spores transfer into living spaces above. A direct comparison could not be made between insulated and uninsulated floors in the sample due to non-random sampling and because the insulated floors included historically damp floors. The study also highlighted that long-term monitoring over all seasons and high-resolution monitoring and inspection are required; conditions in one location are not representative of conditions in other locations.

This study presents the largest UK sample of monitored floors, evaluated using a review of current evidence and comparison with literature thresholds.