Assessing the Physical and Psychological Well-being of Construction Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Study in Italy

Objective: This prospective study aimed to assess the physical and psychological health of construction workers and examine the relationship between their well-being and the preventive measures implemented against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: During occupational visit the workers were invited to participate the survey. Two measurements were made and compared: after the Italian lockdown and on the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Results: 53 workers participated in the study. The percentage of workers who considered themselves in good health increased from 66.0% to 81.1% and there was a significant decrease in the GHQ-12 score (16.8 vs 14.0; p = 0.0003). This reduction was associated to a higher perception of security by preventive measures. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of addressing the health and safety concerns of construction workers during the pandemic, and the positive impact of effective preventive measures.