Supporting an Aging Workforce: Onsite Health Clinics’ Role in Construction Sites  

The Canadian workforce is getting older, and this trend shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.  

A summer 2022 release from Statistics Canada found that more than one in five people of working age are between 55 and 64 years old — the highest percentage of this age group on record. And a 2019 report by Build Force Canada estimated more than 260,000 construction workers are set to retire by 2028, with national hiring trends leaving a shortfall of at least 40,000 workers. 

These trends present unique challenges to companies, especially as they relate to managing ever-increasing costs for employee healthcare.   

The Aging Workforce Challenge in Construction  

Construction is a dangerous industry for workers. In 2022, there were more than 28,000 workers injured in construction accidents, and 183 construction workers lost their lives. That makes construction the third most dangerous job in Canada in 2022, with only manufacturing and healthcare workers experiencing more injuries.  

In addition to the risk of on-the-job injuries, aging construction workers present with more frequent instances of chronic and acute health conditions, including diabetes, heart attacks and high cholesterol. This makes caring for the health and wellbeing of those workers — while controlling the cost of that healthcare — essential for the overall profitability and survival of companies.  

How Onsite Health Clinics Can Help  

Onsite health clinics for construction sites can help you keep your workers safe and healthy while helping you decrease instances of workers’ compensation claims and recordables, as well as decreasing worker healthcare costs. Workers receive high-quality care from skilled professionals, conveniently located at your jobsite.  

Some of the benefits of choosing an onsite health clinic for your construction site include:  

Give Workers Prompt Care  

The faster an injured worker can have their condition evaluated and begin treatment, the faster they’ll recover, and the better their overall health outcomes will be.  

An onsite clinic staffed by experienced medical professionals can assess injured workers and give them onsite treatment that avoids the need for an emergency visit. When necessary, workers who require offsite care can be routed to the appropriate facility, and notes regarding their condition can be forwarded to the offsite provider for faster evaluation and treatment.  

Additionally, workers who have non-work-related health concerns can receive care during their breaks or before and after their shift, helping identify conditions that could need further medical treatment.  

Improve Worksite Safety  

Ensuring your workers are paying attention to basic workplace safety protocols, including the use of PPE, is key to reducing instances of accidents. Workers who have been in the industry for decades may run the risk of becoming lax in their adherence to safety procedures and may be more at risk of injury.  

Your onsite clinic can provide an extra set of eyes, as well as a source of long-term data about how, when and where injuries happen, allowing you to remind workers of the precautions they must take to keep everyone safe.  

Drug and alcohol use at and outside of work can also decrease the safety of your workforce. Using your onsite clinic as a space to conduct drug and alcohol tests — pre-employment, randomly and when you suspect someone is under the influence at work — allows you to intervene when necessary and reduce risks to your workers.  

Control Healthcare Costs  

Sending every worker who’s injured on the job for care offsite is expensive — and costs are unpredictable.  

A worker who gets evaluated at the emergency department may receive care they don’t need, being sent for unnecessary testing and treatment. This causes your costs related to that worker’s injury to skyrocket and may delay their return to duties.  

For those workers whose injuries can be treated at your onsite clinic, you know that their healthcare costs are already included in what you pay to maintain your clinic — no surprises. When a worker needs offsite care, your onsite care team can help keep tabs on the workers’ treatment plan and ensure they receive only necessary care. This helps keep injury-related costs low while making sure your worker receives the care they need to get better.  

Boost Worker Morale  

Workers who feel that you care about their health and wellbeing are more likely to give you their most quality work. They will see the addition of an onsite clinic as a sign that you take their safety at work seriously.  

When workers enjoy coming to work and want to do their best, they are more likely to pay attention to the tasks they’re completing and, as a result, are less likely to make careless mistakes that could lead to injury. Additionally, your workers will be more likely to look out for their coworkers, helping everyone head off potential accidents.  

Key Features of Onsite Health Clinics for Construction Sites  

Every worksite’s needs are different, but onsite health clinics for construction sites offer customizable solutions to help you give workers the care they deserve. Some common things an onsite health clinic can provide include:  

Immediate Injury Assessment and Treatment  

Onsite clinic staff are available whenever your workers are on the job — up to 24/7 — giving them immediate access to skilled medical professionals who can assess their condition and treat injuries when necessary. Workers whose injuries require more care can be routed to the appropriate level and type of offsite care, giving them peace of mind knowing they’re being taken care of.  

Preventative Healthcare Services  

Your onsite or mobile clinic isn’t limited to just providing care for work-related injuries and illnesses. Onsite health clinics at construction sites can offer convenient access to many of the same services your workers see their primary care physicians for, including immunizations and screening for chronic conditions.  

Drug and Alcohol Testing  

A drug- and alcohol-free construction site is a safe construction site, and your onsite clinic can help you conveniently screen workers for potential drug and alcohol use. Test potential workers before they begin work, set up a random testing program and test workers who you suspect may be at work under the influence of drugs and alcohol.   

Having your drug and alcohol testing program at your worksite increases worker compliance, reduces the need for time off work or travel, and boosts the integrity of your test results.

Worker Claims Management  

Managing all the paperwork and deadlines that comes with a workers’ compensation claim or recordable can be a challenge. Missing one deadline or misplacing a document could cause your costs to increase.   

The team at your onsite clinic can help you manage these claims, staying on top of deadlines and keeping in contact with your injured worker regarding their progress. They also can evaluate the offsite care recommendations your workers receive, minimizing the chances of costly overprescription or unnecessary treatment.  

Your Partner in Onsite Health Clinics for Construction Sites  

Your workers deserve exceptional care for all their work-related and non-work-related health concerns, especially after providing years of loyal service to your company. With an onsite clinic from Medcor, your workers get the care they need, when they need it, while you save on the costs of unnecessary offsite treatment. Speak with an advocate today.