The month of November is important one. November marks the month of Movember, the month we focus on fundraising for men’s health, to highlight the importance of men’s physical and mental health as well as promoting positive masculinity.
November 19th marks International Men’s Day. It is celebrated around the world in at least 60 countries and invites people from all over the world to come together and celebrate men in all their diversity, including those who don’t fall into traditional manifestations of masculinity, such as gay and bisexual men, transgender, or masculine non-binary people. This particular day celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, be it in their careers, families and communities. It is a day used to highlight positive role models and raise awareness of men’s well-being and International Men’s Day 2021 is set to be the biggest ever with over 200 organisations due to take part this year!
The three core themes for International Men’s Day in the UK are:
- Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys
- Raising awareness and/or funds for charities supporting men and boys’ wellbeing
- Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity
This International Men’s Day let us recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution that men and boys make to our society – and make sure that they are not alone to suffer in silence.
– Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP
Some of the core themes that are addressed on International Men’s Day are:
- The high male suicide rate
- The challenges faced by boys and men at all stages of education and work including attainment, re-training, redundancy and unemployment
- Men’s health (including male cancers), shorter life expectancy and workplace deaths – plus the health impact of Covid-19
Plus many more.
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The construction industry alone is the number 1 for suicides with a shocking 2 workers in the UK and Ireland taking their own lives every day.
Due to the nature of the work, construction workers are exposed to a range of health and safety hazards, which means individuals put themselves at risk every time they set foot on site.
It is important within the industry that while safety cannot be guaranteed, every safety precaution is taken to ensure preventable incidents don’t occur. As a reminder to all those in the industry it is important to:
Wear Personal Protective Equipment
Wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) could mean the difference between a minor injury and a major long-term injury. It is your last line of defence should you encounter a hazard on site. Personal Protective Equipment includes hard hats or helmets, ear protection, safety goggles, knee pads and hi-vis jackets.
Communicate
Communication is key in keeping your workplace a safe environment.If you are unsure on how to operate something or if you encounter a problem, don’t ignore it! Employees should feel safe in their working environment and therefore having the opportunity to express their thoughts on how to make their job safer is important to any site.
This International Men’s Day Plant Planet want to say a special thank you to all those in the industry who are building a better future! We celebrate you and wish you a Happy International Men’s’ Day!
For more ideas on how to you can participate in International Men’s Day can be found on the How to Mark International Men’s Day 2021 page.
For anyone in need, charities such as The Construction Industry Helpline app, Mind and … are always here to help.
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