Stressed out?
 Growing evidence that stress at work is a significant hazard has prompted the SoR to publish detailed guidance. Primarily aimed at health and safety representatives, the document also provides help to managers who are having to address stress in their department.
The Society has published the 48-page document in recognition of studies from the Health and Safety Executive, the Trades Union Congress and others that show incidences of ill health caused by stress are higher in the health service than in any other work environment.
More than a third of National Health Service staff claim to have suffered from stress related to their work during the previous 12 months.
"There is a growing realisation amongst staff and even management that stress is a major cause of illness and absenteeism with workloads, organisational change, bullying and cuts in staff being cited as the main causes," comments Kim Sunley, the Society's Health and Safety Officer.
"We welcome this document because the Executive has recognised for some time that stress is a significant problem, particularly in the public sector," says Ian Strudley of the Health and Safety Executive's Health and Social Care Services Unit.
"What reps and managers need is down to earth, practical advice and this is what the Society of Radiographers' guidance gives them."
Work-related stress guidance for health and safety representatives' includes sections on what is stress, why it should be addressed, stress management standards and how to implement them, support and rehabilitation, as well as details of resources such as creating a workplace stress policy and a stress survey tool.
The document also includes the Health and Safety Executive's Stress Management Standards which the HSE wants to see implemented in hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland. Much of the responsibility for implementation will be with line managers. To help, the HSE and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) have recently
produced guidelines and competencies which outline what skills abilities and behaviours are necessary to implement the management standards and manage employees in a way that minimises work-related stress. The competencies were the outcome of research carried out by the University of London which was launched at a CIPD conference in March.
SoR work-related stress guidance
HSE and CIPD guidelines and competencies
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