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TUC: stress code needed
00:00 11 Nov 1998
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The TUC has called for a legally binding code of practice on
preventing stress at work, after three quarters of workplace trade
union safety representatives reported stress as their major health
and safety concern.
The revelations come as both the Health and Safety Executive and the TUC are highlighting the damaging effect of stress on the health of people in the workplace.
In the TUC survey of some 6,000 health and safety reps the TUC found six out of 10 safety reps blamed workloads and staffing levels for stress and four out of 10 blamed new management techniques.
The European Working Time Directive came into force at the beginning of last month but the British Government negotiated an exemption whereby people can sign waivers allowing them to work beyond 48-hour weeks.
Bob Blackman, the national secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, claims that construction workers are being put between a rock and a hard place by employers.
"Contractors and subcontractors are demanding that workers sign the waiver or lose their overtime. So if they don't agree to sign and work more than 48 hours then overtime is cut and people are forced to work only 39 hours," said Blackman.
The new guidance from the HSE warns that stress can lead to mental and physical ill health and that taking action early can be cost-effective reducing staff turnover and absence caused by ill health.
The HSE is suggesting ways to reduce stress, including matching individuals to jobs, providing relevant training, and introducing flexible work schedules.
While Blackman agrees with the findings of both the TUC and HSE findings he believes the recommendations remain a pipe dream for the construction industry. "The reality in construction is that sites are operating for seven days a week with many workers doing 10 hours shifts for seven days.
"There will always be the problems of stress in construction as long as people are working such long hours. There needs to be proper management and decent levels of remuneration introduced into the industry," said Blackman.
The revelations come as both the Health and Safety Executive and the TUC are highlighting the damaging effect of stress on the health of people in the workplace.
In the TUC survey of some 6,000 health and safety reps the TUC found six out of 10 safety reps blamed workloads and staffing levels for stress and four out of 10 blamed new management techniques.
The European Working Time Directive came into force at the beginning of last month but the British Government negotiated an exemption whereby people can sign waivers allowing them to work beyond 48-hour weeks.
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Bob Blackman, the national secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, claims that construction workers are being put between a rock and a hard place by employers.
"Contractors and subcontractors are demanding that workers sign the waiver or lose their overtime. So if they don't agree to sign and work more than 48 hours then overtime is cut and people are forced to work only 39 hours," said Blackman.
The new guidance from the HSE warns that stress can lead to mental and physical ill health and that taking action early can be cost-effective reducing staff turnover and absence caused by ill health.
The HSE is suggesting ways to reduce stress, including matching individuals to jobs, providing relevant training, and introducing flexible work schedules.
While Blackman agrees with the findings of both the TUC and HSE findings he believes the recommendations remain a pipe dream for the construction industry. "The reality in construction is that sites are operating for seven days a week with many workers doing 10 hours shifts for seven days.
"There will always be the problems of stress in construction as long as people are working such long hours. There needs to be proper management and decent levels of remuneration introduced into the industry," said Blackman.
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