Occupational stress is a significant hazard. It threatens mental and physical health, workplace productivity and is the cause of a substantial amount of sick leave. By law, employers must take steps to protect their employees from the effects of stress. The risk of stress must be assessed and suitable measures must be put in place to support staff who may be suffering.
This stress at work risk assessment online course aims to enable workers and employers to manage stress productively. It also helps them recognise when stress poses a greater risk to health and productivity and to manage it accordingly.
Almost 822,000 people suffer from work-related stress, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). While stress is not considered an illness, it can exacerbate numerous other conditions. It has been linked to poor physical health, causing issues such as panic attacks, fatigue, high blood pressure and trouble sleeping. Stress is also linked to anxiety, depression and substance abuse problems.
The causes of stress vary from person to person. What may cause stress in one person, may not bother another. Similarly, the symptoms of stress are not the same from person to person.
It is the employers duty to be able to identify what may be the causes of occupational stress, identify when it is occurring and ensure suitable and adequate support measures are in place to support their staff.