Build & Thrive
Build & Thrive is the podcast transforming occupational health and wellbeing in the construction industry. Hosted by Jennie Armstrong, founder of Construction Health & Wellbeing, each episode features inspiring conversations with experts and change-makers dedicated to creating a healthier, happier workforce.
Hear interviews with inspirational individuals and experts who are leading the way in tackling the industry’s toughest challenges, from staggering health statistics to skills shortages and talent retention. Did you know construction workers are nearly 4 times more likely to take their own lives through suicide than workers in other industries? Or that they’re 100 times more likely to die from work-related health issues than safety incidents?
It’s clear we need to do more. Built to Thrive is here to spark change, celebrate innovation, and inspire action for a brighter future in construction.
Join us for real stories, practical advice, and the latest in health and wellbeing strategies for the construction sector. Subscribe now on your favourite podcast platform, and follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube to stay updated. Together, we can make construction a place where everyone can thrive.
Build & Thrive
Opening Your Eyes to Fatigue in Construction with Dr David Garley
Sleep is often treated as a personal problem - something people just need to “sort out” in their own time. In this episode of Build & Thrive, host Jennie Armstrong sits down with GP and sleep specialist Dr David Garley, Director of The Better Sleep Clinic, to explore why sleep is actually a critical health and safety issue for construction.
Drawing on his clinical work with patients and organisations - from major employers to elite sports teams - Dr Garley unpacks how poor sleep and fatigue drive accidents, long-term illness and performance problems. Together, Jennie and David look at what this means for construction employers: from shift patterns and long hours, to workers away from home, to the “badge of honour” culture around pushing through tiredness. Most importantly, they explore what can realistically be done - at both organisational and individual level - to help people sleep better and work more safely.
What we cover:
- The difference between tiredness, sleepiness and fatigue - and why it matters for risk on site
- How poor sleep links to heart disease, diabetes, mental health and even dementia - in real-world, practical terms
- Why construction workers may have particularly high rates of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea - and the signs leaders should look for
- The hidden safety impact of fatigue: from an eight-fold rise in industrial accidents to one in five road collisions involving poor sleep
- What a sensible workplace sleep strategy looks like: anonymous assessment, targeted education, and clear referral routes for proper diagnosis and treatment
- Practical steps supervisors, H&S teams and workers themselves can take to protect sleep around shift work, long hours and life outside of work
Throughout the conversation, Dr David Garley makes a clear case that sleep is not a luxury or a sign of weakness - it is one of the three core pillars of performance alongside nutrition and exercise. For construction leaders who care about safety, productivity and long-term health, bringing sleep into the conversation is no longer optional.
🎧 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431164 (or search your podcast app)
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEoibJLDuFnnT3qSQw37LKPG6xlyvCj7B
Episode Links:
Jennie Armstrong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniearmstrong/
Construction Health & Wellbeing: https://constructionhealth.co.uk/
The Better Sleep Clinic:
- Website: https://www.thebettersleepclinic.co.uk/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/better-sleep-clinic/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebettersleepclinicuk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBetterSleepClinicUK
Dr David Garley:
GKR Scaffolding (sponsor): https://gkrscaffolding.co.uk/
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