As part of the Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress campaign, the European Agency
for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) today launched its e-guide on managing
stress and psychosocial risks.


Stress is an important occupational safety and health (OSH) concern in about
80% of European businesses and is one of the main reasons for lost working days
in Europe. However, less than a third of European establishments have
procedures in place to deal with work-related stress. The e-guide is a
practical tool to help both employers and workers, particularly of small
businesses, better understand and manage stress and psychosocial risks.
The e-guide is now available in several national versions. In total, 34
country-specific versions will be published and each is adapted to the
legislation, context and language of its nation. Each one also directs users to
relevant national resources on stress and psychosocial risks. The e-guide is
aimed, in particular, at tackling the needs of employers and workers of small
enterprises.


Dr Christa Sedlatschek, Director of EU-OSHA, said: ‘Although we cannot see or
measure stress in the same way as many other health problems, it is a very
serious issue. It can affect workers both emotionally and physically, but
businesses and the economy in general can also suffer at the hands of stress.
Just like dealing with other OSH issues, tackling stress and psychosocial risks
is both possible and worthwhile, and the launch of our e-guide puts a practical
tool into the hands of employers and workers. It includes explanations, advice
and examples, demonstrating that these issues can be managed in the same
practical and systematic way as any other OSH issue'.


Each version of the e-guide contains:

• simple explanations of risks, their causes and consequences for workers and
  businesses



• advice and instructions on how to spot problems early and take action


• practical examples of prevention and risk management, particularly for small
  businesses



• information on national resources

Created to improve understanding and raise awareness of stress and psychosocial
risks at work throughout Europe, the e-guide also helps to overcome certain
misconceptions that exist about stress, separating fact from myth. It is
particularly intended for those in small enterprises who need guidance or
advice on the first steps to take to tackle stress and psychosocial risks in
the workplace.

The e-guide is free of charge and each version is available to browse online or
can be downloaded for offline use.

E-guide to managing stress and psychosocial risks

AplusA-online.de - Source: European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)