STRESS

Stress is undoubtedly a Health, Safety and Welfare Issue!
It occurs in the workplace when people find it difficult to cope with tasks, responsibilities and other job pressures. Obviously this situation is not just confined to "high pressure" jobs and indeed there is much evidence that it is jobs in which the worker has little say or control over which contribute most to stressful situations.
Different people also respond to workplace "stressors" in many different ways and for many it may be a small incident, which finally releases the pent up frustrations inside them and makes it obvious to their colleagues that are literally stressed out. Some of the aspects, which may give rise to stress in occupations, are:

• Physical isolation
  
• Poor relationship with supervisors
  
• Work overload
  
• Interpersonal conflict including bullying
  
• Shift Working
  
• Job Uncertainty
  
• Career Stagnation
  
• Poor status

This list is by no means definitive and many GMB Health and Safety Representatives use questionnaires relating to workplace stress as a method of establishing the level of the problem. Guidance on this is available from Regional Office. Identifying the problem and convincing Management is the first area to tackle: from this a joint policy for attempting to prevent, or at least alleviate stress can be drawn up. As in all areas of Health, Safety and Welfare, the GMB philosophy is aimed at prevention.

The Law and Stress:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974;
  
• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999;
  
• Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992;
  
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992;
  
• Working Time Regulations 1998;
  
• The Noise at Work Regulations 1989;
  
• Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977;
  
• Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996; and
  
• Common Law.

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
Thorne House, 152 Brent Street, Hendon. NW4 2DP
Tel: 020 8202 8272
Fax: 020 8202 2893