Transcript STRESS in the Workplace

STRESS
IN THE WORKPLACE
Mike Gibson
Deputy Medical Director
SCOPE
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What is stress?
What causes stress?
What are the effects of stress?
What are my legal responsibilities?
How do I recognise stress?
What can I do about it?
What is stress?
• Stress is a
source of
pressure
Sources of stress
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Heat
Cold
Noise
Fatigue
Vibration
etc
but what you mean by
STRESS is:
pressure
Sources of psychological
stress
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Current life events
Financial difficulties
Responsibility issues
Relationships
Workload - time, targets
Rewards not matching perceived
effort
• Bullying
What causes psychological
strain?
Inability
to
cope
Performance
PSYCHOLOGICAL
PRESSURE
Pressure
Performance
PSYCHOLOGICAL
PRESSURE
Pressure
Ability to cope with stress
Physical responses to stress
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“Fight or flight”
Adrenaline
Heart rate, BP
Redistribution of
blood
• Sweat
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Effects of psychological
strain (1)
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Decrease in performance
Lack of concentration
Loss of interest
Failure of personal
relationships - work/home
• Smoking/drinking
• Sickness absence
• Physical illness
Emotional effects
• Feeling of
helplessness
• Frustration
• Irritability
• Low self esteem
• Alcohol/drug abuse
Legal responsibilities
• Legislation:
– Health & Safety at
Work etc Act 1974
– Public Order Act 1986
– Protection from
Harassment Act 1997
– DDA 1995
– Working Time Regs 1998
– Mgt of H&S at Work
Regulations 1999
• HSE guidelines
How do I recognise stress?
• Do a risk assessment
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Identify the hazard
Decide who is at risk
Evaluate the risk
record the findings
Audit the measures taken
Risk Factors
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Culture
Demands
Control
Change
Relationships & role
Individual factors
What can I do about it?
• Policies about bullying etc
• Support
• Training
– Managers
– Individuals
• Clearly defined roles & responsibilities
Prevention is better than Cure
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Adequate risk analysis
Thorough planning and incremental approach
Work-directed and worker-directed measures
Context specific solutions
Experienced practitioners & evidence-based
interventions
• Social dialogue, partnership & workers’
involvement
• Sustained prevention & top management support