Recovery and Recovery Inclusive Workplaces
in BC Construction

Contributor: Dr. Paul Farnan, Occupational Addiction Medicine Professional

Construction is demanding. The work is physical, deadlines are tight, and pushing through pressure is part of the culture. That toughness builds infrastructure and communities—but it can also make it hard to talk openly about stress, substance use problems, and the challenge of rebuilding stability.

Most workers who resolve problematic substance use do so through a rebuilding process frequently referred to as recovery. Recovery is already happening quietly on BC worksites. Workers rebuild their lives while continuing to show up for crews, families, and themselves. Making recovery visible is not about lowering standards—it’s about strengthening people and work culture while reducing hidden risk.

What Recovery Really Means

Recovery is a word that is often misunderstood. It is more than quitting substances. It is the process of rebuilding a life—physically, mentally, socially, with families and at work. You see it in better sleep, clearer thinking, improved relationships, and greater reliability on the job.

• Not one-size-fits-all: For most, recovery involves abstinence. For others, it’s a gradual, ongoing reduction in substance use combined with healthier routines.
• Focus on outcomes: Progress, stability, and well-being matter more than labels.
• Practical, everyday rebuilding: Most people recover through connection, including work, purpose, relationships, and time, rather than formal bed-based ‘rehab’.

Clearing Up Misunderstandings

Some worry “recovery” means rigid programs or philosophy. That’s not true. Recovery is practical and self-directed: intentional changes that lead to safer work, better well-being, and more resilient crews. The goal is measurable improvement, and the recovery journey is personal.

The Cost of Silence

Low disclosure of substance use does not mean low risk. Fear of judgment, discipline, or job loss drives problems underground, where they surface as:

• Incidents or injuries
• Absenteeism
• Workers quietly leaving the industry

Recovery Inclusive Workplaces & Peer Support in Construction

Recovery-Inclusive Workplaces support recovery and do not tolerate impairment. They reduce concealment, allowing issues to be addressed early—before they become safety failures or career-ending events.

Construction crews rely on each other. Trust is earned through shared work, not job titles. That makes peer support especially effective.

The Peer Support Recovery Navigator (PSRN) initiative, was developed by Dr. Paul Farnan in partnership with the leadership of Mike McKenna, BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA). It was designed by and for construction: practical, peer-based, and safety-aligned.

PSRNs are existing workers who complete the BCCSA PSRN education day and are trained to:

• Support colleagues dealing with substance use, stress, or recovery challenges.
• Navigate the maze of the provincial health system and connect peers to resources.
• Make recovery visible and credible while strengthening existing safety systems.

They are not clinicians, supervisors, or policy enforcers. Their role is practical, peer-based, and grounded in real worksite realities, supporting individuals and Recovery Inclusive Workplaces.

Recovery as a Workforce Strength

Workers with lived or learned recovery experience bring significant strengths:

• Reliability and self-awareness
• Stress management and resilience
• Leadership through example and support

Recognizing recovery openly benefits everyone: crews communicate more, risks surface earlier, and experienced workers stay in the industry longer. In a sector facing skilled labour shortages and an aging workforce, these strengths are critical to safety and productivity.

Mental Health, Harm Reduction, and Saving Lives

Recovery overlaps with mental health, suicide prevention, and overdose response. Construction workers—often but not always men—face elevated risks.

Across BC, initiatives such as Naloxone training, mental health awareness programs, and suicide prevention efforts are increasingly common on job sites. PSRNs and Recovery-Inclusive Workplaces are complementary and do not replace existing safety systems—they strengthen them through trust, peer connection, and earlier intervention.

Growing Momentum of PSRN Training

The PSRN initiative is generating exciting interest across the province. Training sessions are now being requested nearly every month, reflecting growing recognition of the value of trained peer supporters on worksites.

Early adopters report:

• Stronger crews
• Earlier conversations about recovery
• Improving engagement and morale
• Safer, more resilient worksites

All of this happens without adding administrative burden or lowering standards. Recovery is not a liability—it is a workforce strength.

Moving Forward

Recovery is already part of construction. What is changing is the willingness to acknowledge it openly and support it practically. Programs like BCCSA’s PSRN initiative show what is possible when recovery is treated as a legitimate, practical part of worksite safety and workforce development.

Whether you are a worker, supervisor, or leader, you have a role to play. Stronger, supported workers build safer, more resilient crews—and that benefits everyone on the jobsite.

BCCA and the Builders Code supports the BCCSA PSRN initiative.

• For more information or to participate in PSRN training, contact the BC Construction Safety Alliance here.
• For enquiries about Builders Code resources and workplace culture training, contact theteam@builderscode.ca.
• For the Tailgate Toolkit initiative on harm reduction resources and training, visit: Tailgate Toolkit.