Commuters asked for views on work stress

HSC press release: C034:04 - 27 July 2004

Stress policy experts were at Liverpool Street station at 7am this morning, Tuesday 27 July, to lobby thousands of rush hour commuters for their views on work-related stress. Officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were there to encourage people to take part in HSE's innovative consultation and to give away 10,000 CD-Roms as commuters moved through the concourse.

The CD-Roms include a video which outlines what the consultation is about and provides a fast link to the HSE website where people can offer their views. Taking part couldn't be easier, and the deadline is one month away.

At over 13 million days a year, work-related stress is the biggest cause of working days lost through injury or ill-health, costing society about £3.7 billion a year. In 2001/2, over half a million individuals in Britain experienced stress at levels that made them ill.

The consultation highlights a set of Management Standards which enable employers to gauge stress levels, identify causes and work with employees to resolve any issues.

The Standards are not new regulations; they are a non-legislative yardstick to help organisations meet their existing duty of care and their duty to assess the risks of work-related stress. The Standards highlight the components of good organisation, job design and management that keep stress levels in check and enhance productivity.

Chair of the Health and Safety Commission Bill Callaghan said:

"We're not about eliminating all stress or pressure in the workplace. Rather we want to help employers recognise and manage the risks sensibly. We believe the Management Standards can help employers tackle work-related stress at source and reduce sickness absence caused by work-related stress. The Standards have been well-received so far but we need to gather more views."

Notes to editors

1. The revised draft Management Standards were publicly available from 25 May 2004, when Bill Callaghan launched the innovative consultation campaign at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference. The consultation is innovative because it goes beyond the usual format of a consultation document distributed to traditional stakeholders.

2. The Standards, an introductory video and supporting materials are available on HSE's website http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/

3. The CD-Rom is carried free with editions of selected journals and copies have been sent to leaders of the top 350 companies. The consultation runs until 27 August 2004. The first draft Management Standards were developed and piloted in April 2003.

4. The Standards identify six main factors that contribute to work-related stress: demands, control, support, relationships, role, change. The Standards are clear and practical statements of good management practice, supported by a body of research and by an ongoing dialogue with businesses, professional bodies and trade unions.

5. Employers already have a duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees at work (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974) and to assess for health and safety risks (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999). These duties cover work-related stress.

Press enquiries

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