If you are an employer that knows your employees are facing high stress situations on a regular basis, then you need to incorporate stress prevention and management into your safety training program.
Any workers with physically, mentally, or emotionally demanding jobs may be frequently stressed about work-related injuries, chronic pain, physical demands the job requires, co-worker and supervisor relationships, the ability to continue to make the right decisions for the situation, or personal issues that affect their ability to fully focus on the job putting themselves and their co-workers at risk.
Demands of the job, the pressure to provide for one's family, and concern about losing employment prevent many from seeking help which increases their risk for injury, mental distress, depression and anxiety.
OSHA Standard Section 5(a)(1) Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.
While OSHA does not have a specific stress prevention standard, employers should understand that fatigue, distraction, impaired judgment, and mental strain can contribute to unsafe behaviors and workplace incidents.
Stress vs. Workplace Safety
High stress levels can affect workers differently. Some employees may become distracted or withdrawn, while others may become frustrated, impulsive, or fatigued. In physically demanding or hazardous jobs, even small lapses in attention can increase the risk of serious injuries.
Stress may be related to demanding schedules, long shifts, mandatory overtime, staffing shortages, difficult customer interactions, physically demanding work, injuries, financial pressure, or personal situations outside of work.
Workers in construction, transportation, healthcare, emergency response, manufacturing, utilities, and other high-demand industries may experience elevated stress on a regular basis.
Signs That Stress is Affecting Performance
Workers and supervisors should learn to recognize signs that stress may be interfering with safe job performance. Early recognition may help prevent incidents before they happen.
Possible signs may include:
- Increased mistakes or poor concentration
- Fatigue or low energy
- Irritability, frustration, or conflict with co-workers
- Changes in attendance or reliability
- Difficulty making decisions
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, upset stomach, or trouble sleeping
Recognizing these signs does not mean someone is unable to work, but it may indicate additional support or changes are needed to reduce unnecessary stressors.
Practical Stress Prevention Strategies
If you are at risk for having negative stress affect your life and work performance, take into consideration the following important points that may help reduce stress and improve focus and safety.
Improve Daily Habits
Manage the workload and set priority levels for tasks with a realistic work plan. Breaking larger tasks into manageable steps can help prevent feeling overwhelmed.
Eat nutritiously and avoid excessive junk food and caffeine. While caffeine may temporarily increase alertness, excessive use can worsen anxiety, irritability, and poor sleep.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, and do not smoke. These coping methods may temporarily mask stress but can increase long-term physical and mental health risks.
Get enough sleep and rest. Fatigue and sleep deprivation are strongly linked to reduced alertness, slower reaction time, and increased workplace incident risk.
Outside of work, participate in activities that are enjoyable and help you recharge. Time with family, hobbies, outdoor activities, or relaxation techniques may help improve overall wellbeing.
Exercise regularly. The body can often manage stress better when physically fit, and exercise may provide immediate stress relief while improving sleep quality and energy levels.
Address Workplace Stressors
Identify the specific source of job stress and come up with targeted ideas to eliminate or reduce the exact stressor. Management should be open to hearing ideas from workers that will make the work environment less stressful for employees.
Sometimes simple improvements can reduce unnecessary stress, such as better communication, improved scheduling, additional staffing, better planning, clearer expectations, or improved access to tools and materials needed to safely complete the work.
Speak up at work if something is causing stress. Often management may be unaware of the situation, and that is one reason nothing has been done to address it. Open communication between employees and supervisors can help identify practical solutions before problems worsen.
Include Stress Prevention in Safety Training
Stress prevention can be incorporated into regular safety meetings, orientations, and supervisor training. Topics may include recognizing fatigue, managing workload expectations, identifying signs of burnout, encouraging communication, and understanding when workers should ask for assistance.
Encourage Early Support
Learn to recognize the early warning signs for stress reactions and seek help if needed. Employees should know what resources are available through their employer, healthcare provider, or employee assistance programs if offered.
Seeking help for stress, anxiety, or emotional difficulties should be viewed the same way as seeking help for any physical health concern. Addressing concerns early may help prevent more serious safety or health problems later.
MARCOM's Workplace Stress Video Program helps employees identify potentially stressful situations and learn how to cope with them.The safety video program comes with a quiz, a scheduling and attendance form, a training certificate, and an employee training log.
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