9.PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS

PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS

What is psychosocial risk?

Introduction

ILO describes psychosocial risks as •Job satisfaction, work organization and management, interaction between environmental and organizational conditions and workers' expertise and needs.

Introduction

• Psychosocial risks arise from poor work design, organisation and management, as well as a poor social context of work • They may result in negative psychological, physical and social outcomes.

What are psychosocial risk factors?

• Psychosocial risk factors are associated with the way individuals interact with the demands of their job and their work environment.

1)Work demands and mental load The mental and physical requirements of the job For example ;  Working very fast  Working intensely  High work load  High information processing demands  Constant time pressures  Pressure to work overtime

2)Job control The amount of input that workers perceive they have over the way they do their work.

For example;  Little or no control over work speed    

Little or no opportunity to schedule own work Limited break opportunity Poor task variation Little or no opportunity to make own

3) Co-worker social support The support that workers perceive they receive from coworkers.

For example;  Little or no help received from colleagues and immediate superiors  Poor willingness of colleagues and immediate superiors to listen to work problems

4) Sense of community The degree to which workers feel that they are part of a community.

For example;  Poor general atmosphere at work  Poor co-operation between colleagues  Poor relationships between colleagues

5) Management feedback • The feedback that workers perceive they receive from colleagues and immediate superiors.

For example;  Little or no opportunity to talk about work performance with managers  Little or no opportunity to talk about work performance with colleagues

6)Quality of leadership • The degree to which workers perceive their immediate superiors to be good leaders.

For example;  Poor ability of managers to plan work  Poor ability of managers to solve problems

7) Work stress • The degree to which workers are experiencing signs of work stress.

For example;  High levels of fatigue  High levels of emotional tiredness  High levels of frustration  Poor work-life balance

Why are psychosocial risk factors important?

• Psychosocial risk factors are important since if they are present in the work environment they can be sources of stress.

• Stress has been shown to have an important influence on the development and persistence of musculoskeletal discomfort and disorders .

• The presence of psychosocial risk factors in the workplace influences the risk of individuals developing musculoskeletal problems. This, in turn, has an impact on injury related costs, absenteeism and productivity.

STRESS Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand.

It can be caused by both good and bad experiences.

When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood.

STRESS • These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger. !!! But this can also be a bad thing, if their stress is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength.

STRESS • Stress affects the wear and tear of the body, • Background stress is desirable as a source of motivation, • Stress fuels the body’s activity, • The response of the body to stress depends on a number of factors of the individual, • Adverse effects are exerted when the body is subjected to excessive levels of stress.

Stressors (stretchers);

• -Mental and Social Factors • -Physical Factors

MENTAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS

Incompatibility in the workplace

Troubles

House works Anxiety about losing business Health problems Lack of pay Emotional relationship Not promoting

MENTAL AND SOCIAL FACTORS

In a situtation of decision making

All kind of obstacles

Mariage,divorce…

Retirement

Changing job

PHYSICAL FACTORS Air pollution

Vibration

Lightning arrangement

Thermal comfort conditions

Radiation

Noise

Intensive heat changes

Bacteria, viruses, poisons

IMPACT OF STRESS • • • •

Raised heart beat, High blood pressure, Increased muscle tension, Blood pressure during working time than leisure time.

IMPACT OF STRESS • • • • •

Effects on blood clotting, Disturbed breathing High susceptibility to illnesses, High risk to occupational accidents, Low productivity.

BODY HAS E XCEED CAPAC ED ITY TO RESIST !!

H T L A E !

H !

L S T IL C E F F E

E T A SS T S NE R LL O PO WE OF

H HIG

DY O B

S U A H EX

RED

UC E SYS D IM TEM

N O TI

MU NE

Chronic stress sources in the workplace • Uncertainty in roles • Conflicts between people • Responsibility • Intensive workload • Participation • Space and location problems

In the face of stress, our body passes through 3 stages: Alarm Resistance Exhaustion

ALARM PHASE When we are dealing with a stress source, our sympathetic nervous system becomes active and our body reacts to "battle or escape".

During this reaction, body changes and eventually we face the source of stress and we are ready to escape.

Physical Specifications Changes in blood flow

Emotional Indications

Headache

Unrest

Growth in pupils

Do not be anxious

Increase in salivation

Pessimism

Increase in respiratory rate

Irritability

Increased heart rate

Decreased self-confidence

Blood sugar increase Appetite disorder

Mental Statements Forgetfulness Decrease in concentration Instability Reduced interest Decline in job quality Increase in faults Excessive imagination Focus on the negatives

Social Indications Deprivation of social life Do not go to appointments Trying to find mistakes in people

RESISTANCE PHASE ÂŤADAPT OR RESISTÂť If we adapt to the stress source or solve the problem effectively, everything will be back to normal.

In this case, the alarm will repair the damages that occur in the course of time.

Stress reveals all the effort we have to make to resist

EXHAUSTION PHASE The strange source can not be dealt with, and if we do not adapt, the depletion phase occurs.

The stress source is still present and we are exhausted.

We are also exposed to the effects of other stress sources and chronic stress symptoms arise.

If stress is a constant but ineffective struggle, it brings this depletion.

HOW CAN WE DEAL WITH IT?

STRESS MANAGEMENT • Identify causes of stress, • Identify sources of stress, • Review policies of corporate organizations, • Redesign jobs • Reduce the importance given to the situation • Trust oneself • To think that your life is under control

STRESS MANAGEMENT • Improve communication system, • Review of personnel policies, • Cascade decision making process to lower levels, • Conduct periodic stress audits • Change of life style • Time management • Develop and implement stress management courses to enhance recognition of stress