Psychosocial Risks at Work

Shaun Lundy

Psychosocial Risks at Work

• Work-related-stress

• Violence & aggression at work

What is Work-Related Stress?

• Stress is the feeling of being under pressure.

• A little bit of pressure can:

• increase productivity

• be motivating

• improve performance 

• However, too much pressure or prolonged pressure can lead to stress, which is unhealthy for the mind and body.

Stress Hormones

• Cortisol 

• Adrenaline

• Noradrenaline

These hormones are all produced by the adrenal glands (two small organs that are located just above the kidneys).

They invoke the 'fight or flight' feelings that help you to deal with a stressful situation.

Harmful effects of stress hormones

However, when it is impossible to fight or escape a stressful situation, such as being on an overcrowded train, these chemicals are not used.

If the chemicals that are released during stressful situations accumulate in the body, you may start to feel unwell.

A Build up of Adrenaline & Noradrenaline

• Will increase:

• your blood pressure

• your heart rate

• the amount that you sweat

A Build-up of Cortisol

• Will increase your blood pressure.

• Suppress your immune system (the body’s natural defence against illness and infection), which means you may not be able to fight off an illness or recover from an injury.  

• Release fat and sugar into your bloodstream, which may lead to weight gain. 

Mental Symptoms• Anger

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Changes in behaviour

• Food cravings

• Lack of appetite

• Frequent crying

• Difficulty sleeping

• Feeling tired

• Difficulty concentrating

Physical Symptoms

• Chest pains

• Constipation or diarrhoea 

• Cramps or muscle spasms

• Dizziness & fainting spells

• Biting your nails or nervous twitches

• Pins and needles (paraesthesia),

• Feeling restless

• Sweating more than usual

• Sexual difficulties

• Breathlessness

• Problems sleeping

Psychosocial Risk Factors

• Design of work processes

• Organisational factors

• Management issues

• Economic and social context of work

Failure to manage these factors effectively may result in an increased level of stress and can lead to serious deterioration of mental and physical health.

How prevalent is Work-Related Stress?

• The European Agency for Health and Safety at Work estimate that more than 22% of workers are affected by work-related stress.

• Studies in the EU and UK suggest that between 50-60% of all lost working days are related to psychosocial factors caused or made worse by work.

Reasons for Managing Psychosocial Risks

• Reducing psychosocial risks is not only a moral, but also a legal imperative.

• There is a strong business case as well. In 2002, the annual economic cost of work-related stress in the EU-15 was estimated to be over 20 billion Euros.

What is Violence & Aggression at Work?

• Repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards an employee, or group of employees.

• Usually aimed at victimising, humiliating, undermining or threatening the harassed person.

• Violence is one of the most serious occupational hazards. It can include insults, threats or physical aggression.

How prevalent is Violence & Aggression?

• In 2005 an EU Survey indicated that 5% of workers in Europe reported being subject to harassment/bullying and 4% of workers reported being subjected to actual physical violence from members of the public in the past twelve months.

• In some EU countries as many as 10-17% of workers reported this problem.

Psychosocial Risk Workshop

• Examine the HSE stress management standard and associated guidance.

• Review Dan’s story, an HSE case study designed to provide a real life example stress at work.

• Examine the guidance available on violence & aggression at work.

• Review workplace examples of violence & aggression at work and interventions designed to prevent injury.