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Tackling Work Related Stress

Stress is an adverse reaction that people have to excessive pressure or other demands placed on them. It may be caused by things at work or outside work or even a combination of the two.

Stress is not an illness but it can lead to increased problems with ill health, if it is prolonged or particularly intense for example:

Physical Effects

• heart disease
• back pain
• gastrointestinal disturbances
• various minor illnesses

Psychological Effects

• anxiety and depression

In this country one in five workers report that they have been affected by work related stress.

Employers have a duty to make sure that employees aren't made ill by their work. Where stress caused or made worse by work could lead to ill health, you must assess the risk.

A risk assessment for stress involves:

• looking for pressures at work that could cause high and long lasting levels of stress
• deciding who may be harmed by these
• deciding whether you are doing enough to prevent that harm

If necessary, you must then take reasonable steps to deal with these pressures.

The health and safety executive have produced a guide "tackling work-related stress: a managers guide to improving and maintaining employee health and well being" ISBN 0717 6 20506 £7.95.

For firms with fewer than 50 employees there is a free booklet "Work - related stress a short guide", both are available on line at www.hsebooks.co.uk or from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sunbury, Suffolk C010 2WA. Tel. 01787 881165