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Safety, Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction: Advancing SDG Goals...
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Safety, Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction: Advancing SDG Goals Through Smart Practices

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 March 2026 | Viewed by 522

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Built Environment Engineering, School of Futures Environment, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Interests: construction project management; gender dynamics; knowledge management; mental health and wellbeing; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry continues to experience disproportionately high rates of workplace accidents, psychological distress, and suicide compared to other sectors. Despite increased awareness, mental health and wellbeing are still underprioritized in mainstream construction management practices. As global attention shifts toward sustainable and ethical development under the SDG framework, it is important to reimagine how safety and wellbeing are integrated into project delivery.

Smart practices, including digital tools, wearable technologies, real-time monitoring, and proactive leadership strategies, offer new opportunities to create safer and more supportive work environments. This Special Issue brings together research that identifies challenges and demonstrates scalable, impactful innovations that support mental and physical health in construction environments. Contributions and submissions will collectively advance a more resilient, ethical, and performance-enhancing construction culture that aligns with global sustainability targets.

The topics of interest include the following:

  • Smart technologies for on-site monitoring of safety and wellbeing.
  • Psychosocial risks and digital interventions in construction work.
  • AI, IoT, and wearable technologies for real-time health and safety management.
  • Policy and regulatory initiatives supporting SDG-aligned construction practices.
  • Inclusive and supportive workplace cultures for mental wellbeing.
  • Suicide prevention and mental health support strategies in construction.
  • Worker engagement and digital transformation for wellbeing.
  • Data analytics and predictive modeling for proactive safety planning.
  • Comparative studies of global best practices in construction health and wellbeing.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • construction safety
  • mental health
  • worker wellbeing
  • psychosocial risk
  • sustainable development goals (SDGs)
  • smart practices
  • health and safety management
  • digital innovation
  • smart technology
  • workforce resilience

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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28 pages, 1786 KB  
Systematic Review
Trends and Future Directions in Mitigating Silica Exposure in Construction: A Systematic Review
by Roohollah Kalatehjari, Funmilayo Ebun Rotimi, Rajitha Sachinthaka and Taofeeq Durojaye Moshood
Buildings 2025, 15(16), 2924; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15162924 - 18 Aug 2025
Viewed by 384
Abstract
Respirable crystalline silica is a well-established occupational hazard in construction work. Despite increased awareness, consistent exposure control remains a challenge, particularly in dynamic and resource-constrained environments. Respirable crystalline silica exposure in construction environments challenges the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [...] Read more.
Respirable crystalline silica is a well-established occupational hazard in construction work. Despite increased awareness, consistent exposure control remains a challenge, particularly in dynamic and resource-constrained environments. Respirable crystalline silica exposure in construction environments challenges the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Respirable crystalline silica particles cause severe health complications, including silicosis, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune disorders, representing a significant barrier to achieving SDG 3.9’s target of reducing deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemical exposures by 2030. This systematic review evaluates two decades of advancements (2004–2024) in respirable crystalline silica identification, characterisation, and mitigation within construction, synthesising evidence from 143 studies to assess progress toward sustainable occupational health management. This review documents a paradigmatic shift from traditional exposure assessment toward sophisticated monitoring approaches incorporating real-time detection systems, virtual reality–Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations, and wearable sensor technologies. Engineering controls, including local exhaust ventilation, wet suppression methods, and modified tool designs, have achieved exposure reductions exceeding 90%, directly supporting SDG 8.8’s commitment to safe working environments for all workers, including migrants and those in precarious employment. However, substantial barriers persist, including prohibitive costs, inadequate infrastructure, and regional regulatory disparities that particularly disadvantage lower-resourced countries, contradicting the Sustainable Development Goals’ principles of leaving no one behind. The findings advocate holistic approaches integrating technological innovation with context-specific regulations, enhanced international cooperation, and culturally adapted worker education to achieve equitable occupational health protection supporting multiple Sustainable Development Goals’ objectives by 2030 and also highlighting potential areas for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Safety, Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction: Advancing SDG Goals Through Smart Practices)
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