UCATT is surveying women in construction to determine the levels of harassment, discrimination and bullying they experience in the workplace.

The union is encouraging all female construction workers to take part in the confidential online survey, which forms part of its current Union Modernisation Fund project.

George Guy, acting general secretary of UCATT, said: “Construction has a very poor record for treating workers with dignity and respect. Anecdotally, it appears that women construction workers are even more vulnerable to experiencing bullying and harassment. This survey will discover if that is indeed the case.”

He concluded: “In the 21st century all workers have the right to work without being victimised and harassed. That includes all construction workers, regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexuality.”

Women make up around 14 per cent of the construction workforce in the UK. According to Chrissi McCarthy, of Constructing Equality, they face myriad barriers to getting on in the profession, with stress – caused by, among other things, sexual harassment, discrimination and isolation – by far the most serious.

The UCATT survey closes on 25 November and all participants will be in with a chance to win an Apple iPod Shuffle.

It can be accessed here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/LHWPXQ5