Aims/background:
The overall aim is to determine the primary drivers for suicide in FIFO/DIDO construction workers, as well as their perspectives on preventing suicide including engagement in co-designed suicide prevention for their industry.
Available evidence for FIFO-DIDO suicide is heavily weighted towards the mining industry as opposed to the FIFO-DIDO construction industry. Further, there is no lived experience co-design of suicide prevention for this industry group. Further, given the acute onset of transition to renewable energy and remote infrastructure builds there has been a dramatic shift for construction workers to FIFO-DIDO work environments which unlike the resource sector, such construction builds are non-static in job design. They rely on trades-based subcontracts rather than principal contractor employees and so they experience a mobile, disconnected workforce; all factors that contribute to suicide risk.
Method/Design:
Our three-phase study answers the questions: What are the unique drivers of suicide for FIFO-DIDO workers in building and construction industry (Phase 1)? What are FIFO-DIDO construction worker perceptions of these drivers and the best means for addressing them to prevent distress and suicide in the industry (Phase 2)? What do co-designed suicide prevention and psychosocial safety responses look like for FIFO-DIDO construction workplaces (Phase 3)?
A mixed-method approach is used with explanatory sequential design (Phases 1/2) plus Phase (3) for translation (co-design prevention).
Phase 1 (Quantitative): Analysis of a pre-existing MATES in construction secure database to identify drivers of suicide for FIFO-DIDO workers compared to other broader industry sector workgroups.
Phase 2 and Phase 3 (Qualitative): Focus groups/interviews with FIFO/DIDO construction workers will explore - perspectives on suicide drivers/preventing suicide and psychosocial safety responses for FIFO-DIDO construction workplaces ( Phase 2), and, co-design of related prevention initiatives (Phase 3).
Results: Phase 1 will include findings from K-means cluster analysis which will group construction workers by their work profiles while multiple linear regression will identify groups at higher risk of mental health problems and suicidality. Phase 2 preliminary qualitative results only will be presented.
Implications: In line with the conference theme and abstract criteria, this presentation includes innovative research findings on lived experience informed and proactive prevention responses for FIFO/DIDO construction workers. The findings will guide workplace health and safety professionals, construction companies and government on how to effectively support this industry preventing unnecessary deaths.