STRESS
STRESS
• Adverse reaction people have to excess pressures or other types of demands
placed on them, It arises when they worry that they cannot cope (HSE)
• Wear and tear of the body (Han selye)
• A physical, mental, or emotional response to events that causes bodily
or mental tension
• The physiological and psychological responses of workers who perceive that their
work demands exceed their resources and/or abilities to cope with the work.
(WSHQ, 2010)
• Stress is the body’s automatic response to any physical or mental demand placed
on it.
STRESS
Fundamentally it is the way that we think about a situation rather than the situation
itself that causes stress
• Problems occur when the pressure on an individual seems to be overwhelming or
out of control. They will perceive themselves as not to possess the necessary
skills to combat their stress and therefore feel unable to cope
• Arise from Situations, activities, and relationships that cause ‘trauma’ to one’s
physical, emotional, or psychological self (stressors)
• Depends mostly on how one
• Perceive situations
• React to situations
STRESS:
There are three main points to consider
• It is important to recognize that the stress response is a multifactorial
(i.e. physiological, cognitive and emotional) response to a set of
stimuli that can lead to ill health.
• Stress is not a disease in its own right, but a pathway that can lead to
ill-health, whether mental or physical health outcomes.
• Thirdly, the individual’s perception of their work characteristics
(including their perceptions of their coping skills and how important it
is to them that they cope) is an integral part of the stress equation
CAUSES OF STRESS AT WORK
• Too much work loads • Uncertainty over work role
• Overwhelming sounds, noise, • Failure to address issues
illumination
• Bullying
• Threat of personal injury
• Harassment
• Difficult schedules
• Poor working environment
• Long working hours without breaks
• Difficult shift patterns
• unrealistic deadlines
• Threat of redundancy
STRESS- GENERAL ADAPTATION
SYNDROME
• Stage 1: alarm reaction
• Fight or flight responses which cause you to be ready for
physical activity
• Stage 2:stage of adaptation
• If the stress continue the body adopt to the stressor it is being
exposed to
• Stage 3:stage of exhaustion
• If stress persist for a long time body resistant may reduce or
even collapse. May experience chronic pain or illness
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
Short term physical stress symptoms Long term physical stress symptoms
• Dry mouth • Insomnia
• Cold hands and feet • Change in appetite
• Increase sweating • Sexual disorders
• Faster heart rate • Aches and pains
• Tense muscle • Frequent colds
• Feeling nausea • Feeling of intense and long term
• Desire to urinate tiredness
• Prone to illness
BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS OF
STRESS
• Yawning • Defensive
• Talking too fast • Hostile
• Fiddling • Aggressive
• Nail biting • Over reacting
• Grinding teeth • Irritable
• Drumming fingers • Irrational
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF STRESS
• Individual
• Forgetfulness; weight loss/gain; anxiety; depression;
alcohol/drug abuse, high blood pressure, neglect appearance,
poor physical health
• Performance
• Reduce effectiveness; poor judgement, affects attention span,
difficult concentration; mistakes
• Organisation
• Poor overall performance ; increase absenteeism; increase
accident rate; decrease productivity, low staff morale,
IDENTIFYING STRESSORS:
Situations, activities, and relationships that cause ‘trauma’ to one’s
physical, emotional, or psychological self.
• School • Finances
• Work • Health/illness
• Family • Environment
• Relationships • Living Situation
• Legal
INFORMATION SOURCES USE TO IDENTIFY STRESS AT WORK
• Sickness and absence data • Records of complaint
• Health surveillance • Rate of staff turnover
• Performance appraisal information • Information from exit interviews
• Records of return to work • Information from stress survey
interviews
• Information from external
• Reports from accident investigation guidance/standards
MANAGING STRESS: ROLE OF INDIVIDUAL
• Engage in exercises (yoga, work • Relaxation
out routine)
• Set boundaries
• Change perception and
expectation
• Don’t compromise on
• Break task into manageable parts values/beliefs
• Avoid procrastination • Get Enough Sleep
• Let go of perfectionism • Cut down on sugar, caffeine,
processed foods
• Focus less on pleasing others and
more on pleasing yourself
MANAGING STRESS: ROLE OF
MANAGEMENT
• Implement strategies/policies/procedure
• Breaks in between task, stress investigation team, return to
work interviews, periodic risk assessment
• Stress management training
• Stress awareness; time management; relaxation techniques
• Promote a supportive workplace environment
• Training of middle managers/supervisors on work delegation,
supervision, employee buy-in and listening skills
BENEFITS OF STRESS MANAGEMENT
• Improved workers' well-being and job satisfaction
• A healthy, motivated and productive workforce
• Improved overall performance and productivity
• Reduced absence and staff turnover rates
• Reduced costs and burden on society as a whole
• Compliance with legal requirements
