HSE has produced guidance for employers with stress management standards to help employers. In the survey of over 10,000 workers, around 40% thought that the risk of stress in the workplace could be realistically reduced. However, less than a third said that their employers had taken preventative action to reduce stress levels in the workplace.
Around three-quarters of the two million workers who self-reported ill health in 2004/2005 had musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. upper limb or back problems) or stress, depression or anxiety. There were 200,000 more such reports the previous year.
An estimated 62% of workers used a desktop PC or a laptop in their job during an average working day. Amongst these users, an estimated 62% had received health and safety training, guidance or information on the use of their machine and the layout of their workstation. Most workers (90%) who had received training, guidance or information were very or fairly confident that this would help prevent them from developing a health problem.
While 10% of PC or laptop users indicated that the risk of developing a health problem had reduced during the last 12 months, 78% indicated no change and 8.6% an increase. Amongst users, just over one-quarter felt the risk of developing a health problem could be reduced and 11% were quite or very concerned that the use of a PC or laptop in their job could cause them harm, representing an estimated 7.1% of the working population.
Workers identified various risks to which they are exposed which they feared could cause them harm. Stress came at the top of the list, with 22% citing it. PC or laptop use came fifth, with 7.1%. In between were: lifting or carrying heavy loads by hand; dust and fumes that could cause respiratory conditions; and slips and trips.
