Welcome to Safety Watch, a newsletter that provides an update on current loss-control regulatory and technical issues.

CONTENTS

Managing job stress is a complex process (cover page)

How to store chemicals safely

How to properly select protective work gloves  

New sales territories may present driving dangers

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Cover story

Managing job stress is a complex process

Employee input and involvement are vital for any successful stress-reduction program

Employees may show signs of stress through their body language.

by Marilyn Priddy, CIH, CSP

Risk assessment is a key element of loss prevention. However, there is no magic formula for a risk assessment or evaluation for job stress. A single approach to evaluating the scope and source of job stress in an organization is not generally practical due to the wide diversity in workplaces, including their complexities, sizes and resources.

However, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has identified some common elements of successful stress-reduction programs.

The following should be tackled before initiating a risk assessment:

• Build general awareness about job stress.

• Secure top-management’s commitment and support.

• Incorporate employee input and involvement.

• Establish technical resources (for instance, train staff or contract consultants).

Some suggestions for information gathering include:

• Use lists of warning signs and stressful job conditions to determine what data to collect.

• Hold group discussions with employees.

• Survey employees to measure perceived levels of stress, health and satisfaction.

• Measure absenteeism, illness, turnover rates and performance problems (these should be considered rough indicators).

• Obtain professional support from universities or consultants for survey design and data analysis.

After collecting information, the next step is to summarize and analyze the data to locate stress problems and potentially related job conditions.

If stress issues are identified, determine if the problem exists across the organization or is limited to specific departments or jobs.

As with other recognized occupational hazards, after a risk assessment is completed, control measures should be designed and implemented. However, the jury is still out on what kind of controls are most effective.

Suggestions for individuals:

• Learn more about job stress and its effects.

• Take care of yourself. Exercise, watch your diet and get plenty of sleep.

• Find a relaxation technique that works for you — deep breathing, muscle relaxation, visualization, yoga, etc. Remember, no one stress-reduction technique works for everyone.

• Take a time-management course and learn to stay organized, do the most important things first and let the rest go. Gaining control over daily activities is a powerful stress reducer.

• Maintain a balance between work and family or personal life. Take some time for yourself and for fun every day. Take a vacation, leave work on time and avoid taking work home.

• Develop and maintain a support network of friends and coworkers.

• Resolve conflicts with bosses and coworkers. Speak up if something is bothering you; don’t yell, but be assertive.

• Develop a plan to follow in the event of a downsizing or layoff. Backup plans can reduce worry.

• Take advantage of employer-sponsored employee assistance programs and get professional help, if needed.

Suggestions for managers:

• Recognize employees for good work performance. Fewer than half of workers report they are recognized or rewarded frequently, and 26 percent say they rarely or never receive appropriate recognition or rewards for good performance.

• Provide opportunities for career development.

• Develop a culture that values the individual worker. Give workers opportunities to participate in decisions and actions affecting their jobs.

• Provide opportunities for social interaction among workers.

• Treat reports of job stressors seriously.

• Establish realistic deadlines.

• Act in a manner consistent with the organization’s values.

Effectively managing job stress requires identifying the risks through information gathering and assessment. The control measures selected and implemented should be focused on the results of these assessments and the scope of the issue(s) identified.

For assistance or more information on this topic, please contact:

Jeff Milosch ,CIH
NATLSCO Risk and Safety Services
Phone: 888-576-7522, ext. 3725
Fax: 847-726-3349
E-mail: jmilosch@us.bureauveritas.com