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Risk assessment of mental stress

Constant availability, permanent information overload and multitasking: the ever faster pace of change in the world of work is causing the risk of mental stress to skyrocket. In the past ten years, sick leave due to mental health diagnoses has doubled. On average, each person affected is unable to work for more than 40 days. The economic consequences for companies are serious. A very effective way of identifying potentially illness-causing factors is to carry out a Risk assessment of mental stress.

RISK ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL STRESS HAS BEEN MANDATORY SINCE 2013

Since 2013, all companies are legally obligedThe aim is to explicitly protect the mental health of employees as part of occupational health and safety with a risk assessment of mental stress. A crucial point here is the professional implementation of the risk assessment.

"Far too many companies are still trying to measure mental stress using the same methods they use for noise and dust exposure," says the founder of GS Consult, Giovanni Sciurba.

However, completely different methods are needed to record mental stress. The aim must be to determine the psychological influencing factors at the workplace as objectively and holistically as possible. This can vary greatly depending on the company and area of activity. Topics to be included are, for example, pressure to perform, freedom to make decisions, social support from colleagues and the management behaviour of superiors

Source: DGUV (http://www.dguv.de/de/mediencenter/filmcenter/filme/index.jsp)

RISK ASSESSMENT MUST NOT POSE A THREAT

It is also very important that a risk assessment of mental stress is not seen as a threat by either the employer or the employee. "Employees must be relieved of the fear that they may be seen as underperforming afterwards," emphasises Sciurba. "Otherwise, there will be no honest answers and the company will waste a lot of money." Employee representatives play an important role here. They have a comprehensive duty of co-determination and participation and must be involved in the planning and implementation of a risk assessment.

EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS IS CRUCIAL

The professional identification, assessment and reduction of sources of mental stress in the working environment requires good expertise and a great deal of sensitivity. However, if carried out properly, a risk assessment of mental stress is a key component of successful occupational health management (OHM). Critical areas of stress can be recognised preventively and targeted countermeasures can be introduced. However, this requires the results of the risk assessment to be analysed by trained experts. "The risk assessment can only ever be the first step," says Sciurba. "What happens later with the results is crucial." The effort is worthwhile for everyone involved: after all, healthy and motivated employees are the basis of every successful company.

CONCEPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RISK ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL STRESS

Are you planning an assessment of your employees' work-related mental stress and looking for experienced experts to support you?

GS Consult GmbH has been focussing for many years on health in the workplace and in particular on mental stress and strain in companies. In this context, we also carry out psychological risk assessments. We work with you to develop the right concept for implementation: we plan your employee survey, develop analysis workshops, conduct expert interviews and work with you to develop target group-specific measures based on the information obtained. We attach great importance to a sensitive approach to the topic, compliance with strict data protection measures and transparent communication with employees.

Whether you are a start-up, a medium-sized company or a DAX-listed corporation - we can provide you with professional support for your risk assessment of mental stress.

More information about our Seminar "Successful use of risk assessment of mental stress" you will find here.