18 June 2025

The strong, silent risk to your business

Why supporting men's health on site isn't just the right thing to do – it's essential for resilience, early action, and long-term performance.

In construction, where long hours, tough conditions and tight schedules are common, men's health issues often get pushed aside. Whether it's a pain that's dismissed, a symptom that feels awkward to mention, or a check-up that keeps getting postponed, delay can be dangerous for the individual and the business.

When men don't speak up

Men are more likely than women to:

Put off seeing a GP, or avoid it entirely
Ignore early symptoms of cancer or long-term illness
Feel too embarrassed to talk about their health
Miss appointments because they're off-site or too busy

That delay can turn a minor issue into a serious one. It's one reason men are more likely to die from cancer, especially prostate, testicular and bowel cancer, where early action makes a difference ^[A].

What are the common risks?

These symptoms might seem easy to ignore: a bit of blood in the toilet, a lump that wasn't there before, changes in energy levels or weight. It's common for men to hope they'll just go away, but they're often warning signs of something worth checking.

You'd never ignore a warning light on the van or a rattle in your drill. It's better to check early than risk something failing in the middle of the job. It's the same with your body.

Common men's health issues include:

Prostate or testicular problems
Bowel symptoms
High blood pressure or cholesterol
Type 2 diabetes
Stress-related conditions

The good news? Most of these can be managed or treated if caught early. That's why access to early support can make all the difference, often well before symptoms feel serious.

Add in the practical barriers of construction – remote sites, long hours, and the lack of private spaces to make a call or take an appointment – and it's easy to see why routine health checks get postponed.

In the UK, men die on average three and a half years earlier than women. And while many men will shrug off symptoms, the consequences can be significant ^[A].

Cancer that's detected early is more treatable. The later the diagnosis, the longer the recovery. That means higher personal and business costs.

And it's not just cancer. High blood pressure, diabetes and stress-related issues are often manageable if caught early. But once they start affecting someone's ability to work, rest or recover, they become much harder to reverse.

Health support that fits the work schedule

If your business is part of the ECIS Private Medical Insurance (PMI) scheme, your team already has direct access to health support – and they don't need to go through you to use it.

ECIS supports contractors, installers, and service firms across the UK construction sector. The scheme helps employers give their teams access to early, confidential care.

It includes:

Virtual GP appointments, normally within 48 hours
Quicker access to diagnostics and referrals than NHS routes in many cases
Confidential support without needing to involve the employer
24/7 emotional and wellbeing support through the Employee Assistance Programme

The features of the ECIS scheme help overcome the real barriers men face:

Private help without needing to explain it to anyone
Access from wherever someone is, not just near a GP surgery
Appointments that fit around site life and shift patterns
Professional, personal reassurance when they're not sure what to do next

Even if nothing's clearly wrong, the scheme offers peace of mind. It's a way to get symptoms checked without a fuss – or simply talk things through with someone qualified.

Plenty of people in the trade have already used the scheme – quietly, easily, and without missing work. You don't have to make a fuss to take action.

What employers can do

If you're already in the scheme:

Make sure your team knows what's available – and how to access it
Reassure them it's private, easy to use and doesn't affect their job
Encourage early action, even if symptoms seem small
Consider putting up a poster on-site or mentioning the support during team briefings

If you're not yet covered:

Talk to us about how the ECIS scheme supports early intervention

You're not expected to diagnose issues or chase people into making appointments. But you can give your team permission to act by making it clear their health matters.

Silent risks don't just affect your people – they put pressure on your business too.

When health issues go unchecked, they become harder to treat, more disruptive, and more costly.

The ECIS Private Medical Insurance scheme gives your team access to early, confidential support so silent risks don't turn into serious problems.

Want to know more?

References

^[A] Bupa (2024). Men's Health: A Manager’s Guide published May 2024.