Module 07

Stress, Violence and Lone

Working

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Stress
“The reaction that people have to excessive
pressure, or other types of demands placed
upon them. It arises when they worry that they
can’t cope”
Work related stress is experienced when the
demands of the work environment exceed the
employees’ ability to cope with or control
them. This leads to an adverse reaction that
people have to excessive pressures or other
types of demand placed on them.

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Effects of Stress
 Increased anxiety
 Irritability
 Increased drug use e.g. alcohol, tobacco
 Poor sleeping patterns
 Raised heart rate
 Increased sweating
 Headaches
 Dizziness
 Blurred vision
 Skin rashes
© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Causes and Effects of Stress
EXPOSURE TO
ORGANISATIONAL PROBLEMS
AND PSYCHOSOCIAL EXTERNAL TO WORK
FACTORS IMBALANCE
BETWEEN DEMANDS
AND ABILITY TO COPE

EXPERIENCE OF
STRESS / TROUBLED
DIMINSHED EMPLOYEES
POOR / IMPAIRED
AVAILABILITY FOR
EMPLOYEE
WORK AND
HEALTH
PERFORMANCE

IMPAIRED QUALITY
OF EMPLOYEE
ORGANISATIONAL LIFE
ILL-HEALTH

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Stress Assessment
 Identify if there is a problem
 Identify who is at risk
 Evaluate the risk
 Culture
 Demand
 Control
 Relationships
 Change
 Role
 Individual

 Record findings
 Review

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Key elements of a successful
stress management system
 Good Management support and appropriate training and
development of staff
 Clear company and work objectives
 Good communication
 Close employee involvement
 Support for staff undergoing difficult domestic
problems
 A flexible approach to achieve a good work – life balance

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Dealing with the effects of stress
 Ensure supervisors and managers have the skills and ability to
recognise and deal with stress

 Do not penalise staff for feeling the effects of pressure

 Positively encourage staff to manage their own well being
 Let staff know what help is available
 Discuss changes to work and agree an action plan – stick to promises
 Create a culture to enable staff to seek help and manage their own
support needs

 Take seriously all staff reports regarding stress problems

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Violence
 Internal - bullying
 External - uncivil behaviour, physical or
verbal aggression and assault by people
outwith the organisation
 Risk factors include :-
 Handling of cash, goods and valuables
 Lone working
 Regulatory roles
 Contact with “difficult” clients.
 Poor management
© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Preventative Action
 Physical security measures
 Information on delays and queue management
 Regular removal of cash
 Staff levels and opening hours to suit customers
 Checking visitor credentials
 Reporting / investigating and analysing cases of violence
 Avoid lone work and / or improve communication
 Zero tolerance of aggressive behaviour
 Victim support systems
 Training and Information
 Recognising unacceptable behaviour/early signs of
aggression
© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Lone Workers
 On site
 only one person works on the premises

 people work separately from others,

 people work outside normal hours,

 Off site (Peripatetic or mobile workers)

 on construction etc

 agricultural and forestry workers

 service workers

 Professionals who visit customer and client premises.

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Lone Work Risk Assessment
 Does the workplace present a special risk
 Potential consequences of injury

 Safe access and egress

 Safe plant, equipment, substances etc

 Manual handling issues

 Risk of violence

 Special risks to women or young persons

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Lone worker considerations
 Medical conditions

 Sufficiently experienced

 Training to control, guide and help in situations

of uncertainty.
 avoiding panic reactions

 Employers should set the limits to what can and

cannot be done while working alone.

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1
 Lone worker supervision
 periodic visits and observation

 regular contact using either a telephone or radio;

 automatic warning devices operated manually or automatically by

the absence of activity;

 checks that a lone worker has returned to their base or home on

completion of a task.

 emergency procedures

 access to adequate first-aid facilities

 mobile workers should carry a first-aid kit

© CHSS 2003
Ref: SC/086/V1