A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Workplace Health and Safety Survey (WHASS) has once again highlighted Britain's worker's concerns over stress in the workplace.
More than one fifth of Britain's workers regarded stress in the workplace as being a potential cause of work-related ill-health.
The HSE WHASS, conducted between August and December 2005, surveyed over 10,000 workers, focusing on the presence of risks in the workplace and what measures could be introduced to control such risks to health.
The "Worker's Perspective" on the management of health and safety within the UK mainly focused on the following:
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The numbers exposed to different workplace hazards.
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Workers' concerns.
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Training levels.
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A view of trends in risk.
Some of the key findings from the survey were as follows:
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The most widespread hazard is stress, with around a fifth of the workforce expressing concern that stress could cause them harm.
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Lifting or carrying heavy loads, slipping or tripping and dust or fume exposure, each representing around an estimated 9% of the working population.
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Over half the workforce has no, or slight, health and safety concerns.
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Respondents were asked whether various categories of health and safety risk had increased, reduced or stayed the same over the past year, and in most cases they believed the risks had stayed the same. Perceived reductions in risk were generally more common than increases and this was particularly marked for the risk of falling from height, where reduced risk responses outnumbered increased risk responses by around 20 percentage points.
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A clear balance in favour of reduced risk was also seen for dust and fume exposure, skin contact with chemicals and slipping or tripping. The only risk category showing a clear balance in favour of increased risk was stress (by around four percentage points).
Geoffrey Podger, HSE Chief Executive said:
"Stress is a major problem in British workplaces and this survey underlines that.
"Stress can occur in any workplace and it is important that both employers and employees recognise the symptoms at an early stage.
"We have produced guidance for employers and the stress management standards can help employers tackle the issue."
The worker survey was undertaken by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) on behalf of the HSE.
Full details of the worker survey, questions administered and full technical report, in pdf format, can be accessed by clicking the following links:
The HSE Employer Survey published in November 2005 can also be accessed, in pdf format, by clicking the following:
An HSfB article on stress, kindly prepared by Mr. Frank Cooper MIOSH RSP, containing further information and helpful links, can be accessed from our Your Articles Page by clicking the following:
Article by Alexandra Johnston
