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Issue 1 | Spring Edition | 2026      BUILD MANITOBA
WCA EDUCATION
fear – fear of saying the wrong thing 
or crossing boundaries. “We’re not 
mental health workers. We’re not there 
to diagnose,” she says. “We’re there 
to be with them, to walk with them, to 
support them when they need it the 
most.” By embedding these conditions 
into everyday routines, contractors can 
ensure that “employees and their families 
can know where to turn before, during 
or after a crisis – that it’s always there,” 
Kincaid says.
Recognizing when someone is struggling 
often starts with subtle cues. “The biggest 
one is when a person isn’t themselves 
– when they’re just ‘off,’” notes Hofford. 
“Maybe they’re normally happy, but all of 
a sudden, they’re just quiet, or want [to] 
keep to themselves. If we’re concerned, 
we really need to just take them aside 
and ask, ‘Is everything going all right? Are 
you okay? How can I help you?’”
Professional help is always accessible. 
Penn-co has its Employee Family 
Assistance Program information posted 
in every site trailer, including additional 
support lines that every contractor should 
promote: the Canadian Mental Health 
Association, Manitoba Suicide Prevention 
& Support Line, Winnipeg Regional 
Health Authority, the Klinic Crisis Line and 
emergency services.
Early intervention benefits not only the 
individual, but also overall site safety. 
As construction companies continue to 
refine their safety practices, mental health 
is increasingly understood as part of the 
same equation that governs physical 
risk. By treating psychological well-being 
as a core safety concern, the industry is 
beginning to address hazards that can’t 
be marked with tape or guarded  
by railings, but are no less real on  
the jobsite.  
“The more we talk about 
it, the more we reduce 
the stigma and create 
an understanding that 
everyone struggles.”
Lori Kincaid
READY TO RECOGNIZE THE 
REAL IMPACT OF MENTAL 
HEALTH ON THE JOBSITE?
Register to attend WCAʼs upcoming 
course at winnipegconstruction.ca.
BST: Mental Health in Construction
Facilitator: Wendy Hofford
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026

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