BASIC PRINCIPLES IN OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE Day 5

21 – STRESS MANAGEMENT

WORK-RELATED STRESS Psychosocial aspects of the work environment have been increasingly recognised in recent years. In many developed countries cases of “mental ill health” represent the single most common cause of work-related illness. Well-designed, organised and managed work helps to maintain and promote individual health and well-being. Insufficient attention to job design, work organisation and management the benefits and benefits associated with work can be lost. One common result is work-related stress.

Symptoms of Stress Stress produces a range of signs and symptoms, these can include; Changes in Behaviour: finding it hard to sleep, changed eating habits, increased smoking or drinking, avoidance of friends and family or sexual problems. Physical symptoms: tiredness, indigestion and nausea, headaches, aching muscles or palpitations. Mental changes: becoming less indecisive, finding it hard to concentrate, suffering from loss of memory, feelings of inadequacy or low self esteem. Emotional changes: getting irritable or angry; feeling anxious or numb, being hypersensitive, or feeling drained and listless.

Assessment of Stress Use of Survey Involve asking all employees a series of questions where they rank their individual perceptions of the kinds of factors likely to contribute to stress or job satisfaction.

Management of Stress Demands – including workload, work patterns and the work environment. Control – how much say the person has about the way they do their work. Support – including the encouragement, sponsorship and resources provided by the organisation, line management and colleagues . Relationships – including promoting positive working to avoid conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour. Role – whether people understand their role within the organisation and whether the organisation ensures that they do not have conflicting roles. Change - how organisational change (large or small) is managed and communicated in the organisation.