Stress at Work: Health and Safety Information

Are you feeling stressed by your work?

Many people argue about the definition and sometimes even the existence of ‘stress’. However, research has shown that whatever you choose to call it, there is a clear link between poor work organisation and subsequent ill health.

HSE has chosen to use the word stress and define it as ‘the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them.’

Stress at work can be tackled in the same way as any other risk to health by identifying the hazards, assessing who is at risk and the level of risk, deciding how to manage the risk and putting the plans into action.

Hazards can include: lack of control over the way you do your work, work overload (or underload), lack of support from your managers, conflicting or ambiguous roles, poor relationships with colleagues (including bullying), or poor management of organisational change. Benefits to tackling stress in your organisation can include increased productivity and
efficiency, lower staff turnover and sickness absence, and increased morale.

• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

• Real solutions, real people: A manager’s guide to tackling work-related stress Action pack, ISBN 0717627675 £25.00



• Tackling stress: The Management Standards approach INDG406, (available in packs of 10, ISBN 07176 61407 £5.00)



• Working together to reduce stress at work: A guide for employees MISC686 (available in packs of 15 ISBN 0717661229 £5.00)



• Making the Stress Management Standards work: How to apply the Standards in your workplace MISC714 (available in packs of 15 ISBN 0717661571 £5.00)

Related Publications:

HSE HSG218 Managing the causes of work-related stress: A step-by-step approach using the Management Standards £10.95 find out more

Tackling stress - The Management Standards approach £3.50 find out more

HSE L24 Workplace health, safety and welfare Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 (L 24) £5.75 find out more