What exactly is a stress risk assessment? A stress risk assessment, in short, is a thorough examination of what exactly in an office environment would cause employees to suffer from detrimental work-related anxiety, and so you can assess whether or not you’ve done enough to avoid potential danger. In many large organisations, stress is such a serious problem that it is regarded as a valid occupational illness – one which may be eligible for compensation.
If you are suffering from a stress-risk condition, your first step is usually to schedule an appointment with your employer to discuss the situation in more detail and find out whether your employer is prepared to commit to establishing an ergonomically designed workplace, which will help to eliminate workplace stress. For more information about Occupational Health Wales, go to Insight Workplace Health
The second step you should take when you feel that you’re experiencing unnecessary stress is to establish whether your employer has made any effort to address the problem of workplace anxiety. A lot of companies think that they’re doing enough in terms of creating a safer, more comfortable working environment by making structural changes, but many workers just don’t feel like their situation is being addressed. Don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor about the culture of work-related stress at your organisation, as this will show you what’s working, and what isn’t – and by talking to others in your line of work, you might even learn something you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.