World Day for Health and Safety at Work 28th April 2023

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) observes its World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28 each year. Started in 2003, this is an international campaign promoting safe, healthy, and decent work around the globe. Maintaining wellbeing in the workplace is mutually beneficial to people, organisations, wider communities, and the economy overall. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), “Promoting wellbeing can help prevent stress and create positive working environments where individuals and organisations can thrive. Good health and wellbeing can be a core enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance” (Wellbeing at Work | Factsheets | CIPD).

Stress in the workplace

Stress can place immense demands on our physical and mental health and in the workplace, stress can affect our behaviour, performance and relationships with colleagues. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that there were 822,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2020/21. If people feel under too much stress and for too long, mental, and physical illness may develop. Acas advise that stress can affect people mentally in the form of anxiety and depression, and physically in the form of heart disease, back pain and alcohol and drug dependency (Dealing with stress in the workplace | Acas). Stress affects people differently and while certain levels of stress are normal for some, high levels can have serious consequences for both for the employee and for the business.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified six key areas that can lead to work-related stress if they are not managed properly, which are demands, control, support, relationships, role and change. Their Management Standards can help employers identify and manage the six causes of stress at work. The HSE also provide Talking Toolkits and example stress risk assessments to help line managers have simple, practical conversations with their staff. Recognising the signs of stress can help employers take steps to prevent, reduce and manage stress in their workplace (Work-related stress and how to manage it: signs of stress - HSE). Signs of stress can appear in both individual and team behaviour. By encouraging open conversations and understanding how to identify the signs of stress, employers can prevent and reduce stress in the workplace.

Reporting concerns about Health & Safety

Both employees and managers have health and safety responsibilities. Workers can report certain types of wrongdoing (known as whistleblowing) which must be in the public interest. Complaints that count as whistleblowing and protected by the law include:

• a criminal offence, for example fraud
• someone’s health and safety are in danger
• risk or actual damage to the environment
• a miscarriage of justice
• the company is breaking the law, for example does not have the right insurance
• you believe someone is covering up wrongdoing

Steps for reporting your concerns:

1. Report your concerns to your supervisor/manager.
2. Report your concerns to your Health & Safety manager, HR team or senior leadership team (if you feel that your initial report has not been taken seriously).
3. Submit a written report if your workplace has a formal H&S reporting system/tool.
4. Report your concerns to your union or health and safety representative. A safety representative will be able to give you confidential help and advice with health and safety concerns or complaints.
5. Report your concerns to the HSE via an online form or via telephone (if none of the above resolves the issue or you believe health and safety laws are being broken, putting you or others at risk of serious harm).

Top Tips

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and their partner Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing shared their blog about stress in the workplace and provided five tips on how to manage it as outlined below (April was Stress Awareness Month – Here are five ways to help manage workplace stress : The REC).

1. Improve stress and mental health awareness across your business – Ensure that line managers understand the policies and support in place for employees. Providing mental health/stress awareness training will enable them to recognise the signs, feel confident in approaching an individual and signpost appropriate support.
2. Exercise– Physical exercise has many benefits and can help in relieving stress and anxiety, boost work performance, and improve cognition and mental stamina.
3. Switch off– Encourage your employees to switch off and take regular breaks and time away from the screen.
4. Implement employee benefits that offer support– Encourage your employees to access help and support through their employee benefits, such as an Employee Assistance Programme designed to support employees’ physical, mental, and financial wellbeing and can include telephone and face-to-face counselling.
5. Make use of free resources – Mind offers employers training and toolkits to help them support their employees. Anxiety UKhas similar services and a support line to call with any questions about preventing stress and anxiety at work. And Time to Change is a charity campaigning to remove the stigma around mental health.

The HSE warns that addressing health and safety should not be seen as a regulatory burden. Benefits can include:

• reduced costs
• reduced risks
• lower employee absence and turnover rates
• fewer accidents
• reduced threat of legal action
• improved standing among suppliers and partners
• better reputation for corporate responsibility among investors, customers, and communities
• increased productivity, because employees are healthier, happier and better motivated

A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work (ILO).

Lizzy Turek

Client Research Associate