Your Work and Your Health
Work-related stress - Reporting work-related illness
As an Employer am I expected to report work-related stress?
Work-related stress is the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or to unreasonable demands being placed upon them. If this excessive pressure is exerted over a prolonged period, it can have a negative effect on individuals’ physical and mental health.
Under the 'Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995' (RIDDOR) managers should be aware that it is compulsory for employers to report cases of listed occupational diseases (http://www.riddor.gov.uk). At present occupational stress is not a reportable disease. However, there are cases of severe stress-related illnesses that can be reportable under RIDDOR as an injury, provided that they have arisen as a result of a work accident. "Injury" can be interpreted to include psychological as well as physical injury.
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Employers have a duty, under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, to assess and manage the risk of stress-related ill health arising from work activities, and under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, to take measures to control that risk.
To assess the risk of employees developing stress-related illness because of their work, employers can adopt, what is known as, the Management Standards approach developed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Management Standards for work-related stress describe a set of conditions that reflect high levels of organisational health, well-being and performance. The emphasis is on preventing stress from occurring by adopting good management practice rather than dealing with stress when it has already occurred.
If you would like to know more about the implementation of the Management Standards approach in your workplace, this information can be found in the revised HSG218 guidance or other information is also freely available on the HSE website at: www.hse.gov.uk/stress.
For additional support, you can also contact HSE ‘s Infoline:
Tel: 0845 345 0055
E-mail: hse.infoline@nabrit.com
Postal address:
HSE Information Services
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly
CF83 3GG.
