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Attention: News, Industrial and Health Correspondents

Stress At Work Tops Safety Poll

Stress is the major workplace hazard according to a new TUC survey of 9,000 safety reps out today (Wednesday). And despite the introduction of the Working Time Directive in October 1998, long working hours are a greater problem than two years ago.

The TUC report, focus on health and safety, shows stress is the number one concern for two out of three safety reps (66%). It is the main concern across almost all industrial sectors. Heavy workloads are cited as the main cause of stress (74%) followed by cuts in staff (53%). Safety reps say long hours are a more significant cause of stress than two years ago (up to 39% from 28% in 1998).

Bullying remains a significant cause of stress at work - mentioned by 30% of the reps who reported stress as a problem. Bullying is more prevalent in the voluntary sector (45%), banking and finance (43%), local (41%) and central government (41%).

The bi-ennial survey asked safety reps to list their top five concerns at work. After stress, back strain is the second concern, reported by 44% of reps. Repetitive Strain Injuries is placed third (41%).

The survey also shows:

• although violence and working alone were a greater problem in small workplaces, health and safety was less of a concern in small workplaces than large

• although legally all employers should have a health and safety policy, only 90% actually do

• less than half of employers (47%) have adequate risk assessments. Where risk assessments have been done, less than three out of ten safety reps (26%) are happy with their involvement in drawing them up.

• nearly one in four employers (23%) provide access to rehabilitation for injured workers - but more (30%) use their occupational health service in disciplinary assessments

The TUC is calling on:

• the Health and Safety Executive to draw up standards for tackling excessive workloads, low staffing levels and long hours, against which management performance can be judged

• the Health and Safety Commission to give top priority to developing action plans to cut RSI and back strain

• the Government to legally oblige employers to establish a rehabilitation policy setting out how they will deal with employees injured or made ill at work.

The TUC is also calling for a new right for victims whose employer has not conducted a sufficient risk assessment at work. The new right would make it easier for victims to win compensation where their employer had not assessed the risks which led to their injury or illness.

TUC General Secretary John Monks said: 'Stress at work is a serious problem. But a modern, twenty-four hour economy doesn’t have to mean long hours - we should be working better, not longer. Partnership between employers and unions, and respect for people at work, are the keys to creating a healthy workplace.

'The government, which has a major stress problem among its own employees, needs to take the lead in creating a better working environment for its own staff, and creating a better business environment for British workers generally.'

main hazards at work

main causes of workplace stress

main workplace hazards by region (hazards mentioned by 30% or more safety reps)

Northern region includes Cumbria

main workplace hazards by sector

Notes to Editors:

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Copies of the survey report are available.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Stephanie Power 020 7467 1310 or Liz Chinchen on 020 7467 1248 or 076 99 744115 (pager)

Other enquiries: Owen Tudor on 020 7467 1325 or 07788 715261

Press release (900 words) issued 29 Nov 2000