Safety

Stress is overlooked in Health and Safety Occupations

Jan. 27, 2014
3 min read

The 2014 MySafetySign Health & Safety Industry Survey revealed that stress is the most overlooked workplace concern. MySafetySign's first annual survey explores the issues and changes currently facing the health and safety industry.

Of surveyed professionals, 24 percent mention stress and 20 percent mention overworking as the main safety hazards that go unnoticed. In fact, three of five safety concerns not given enough consideration are psychosocial issues (stress, overwork, and the risks of working alone).

The hazards associated with stress and overwork were prevalent across a wide range of industries. Health services, manufacturing, and energy and water professionals all listed stress as a top concern.

Krissa Cavouras, Editor of MySafetySign's blog, said, "Physical dangers are typically well covered by health and safety training and processes. What our report has highlighted is a lack of focus on more hidden dangers like stress, overwork, and bullying."

In addition to the top psychosocial issues, 8 percent of respondents said that bullying and harassment needed more attention in the workplace.

Nellie J. Brown is Director of Cornell University's Workplace Health and Safety Program. She said, "Stress is an emotional strain which can exist short term and long term. Demands on specific quality goals, production output, and incentive programs can often lead to under-reporting of stress. Workers should address the emotional strain earlier rather than later. Waiting can often be more detrimental and lead to more severe problems for both the employee and the company."

Only 21 percent of respondents said their organization had health and safety embedded in staff's personal responsibilities and objectives.

Cavouras went on to say, "We launched the annual MySafetySign Health & Safety Industry Survey to gain a deeper insight into the main challenges faced by those working in health and safety.

"As we continue to build upon the report each year, we hope it will help paint a comprehensive picture of key issues in the health and safety space."

MySafetySign surveyed 470 individuals responsible for the health and safety practices within their organization. The report also considers the state of budgets in the industry, how invested senior management is in health and safety policy, and how organizations demonstrate commitment to health and safety practices. Read the full MySafetySign Health & Safety Industry Survey at http://www.mysafetysign.com/health-safety-survey.

 

Top barriers to implementing health and safety practices in the workplace

%

Worker attitudes (e.g. They are not interested or are obstructive)

39%

Limited budget

28%

Staff do not understand the problems/risks at work

19%

Lack of organizational safety culture

19%

Lack of involvement of workers in the health & safety process

18%

Organizational resistance to change

15%

Little commitment from top management

12%

Lack of qualified trainers

11%

Restrictive operational procedures

7%

Insufficient OSHA enforcement

4%

Lack of pressure from labor inspectors

3%

Sensitivity to psychosocial issues (e.g. bullying, harassment, violence)

2%

 

Top health and safety concerns in the workplace?

%

Stress

24%

Overwork

20%

Back strains

19%

Risks associated with working alone

17%

Lifting heavy loads

16%

Repetitive stress injuries or musculoskeletal disorders

15%

Ear damage from excessive noise

14%

Slips, trips & falls on the same level

13%

The need for appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

11%

Eye strain from display screen equipment

10%

Machinery hazards

9%

Bullying / harassment

8%

For more information, visit http://www.mysafetysign.com/health-safety-survey. PR

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