Tearing at the seams

Work-related stress can make it seem as though tasks are forming into an insurmountable pile.

Photo: PTE John Wellfare

By Squadron Leader Belinda Ball

In the first of this two-part series on stress and fatigue, Squadron Leader Belinda Ball looks at identifying and dealing with workplace stress.

We have all felt the unproductive effects of stress or fatigue on our work. For most of us it seems common sense that our work quality and productivity will be compromised if we are feeling stressed that day, but what are we doing to combat this? Do we even recognise that there is a problem in our workplaces?

Most active people will experience fatigue at some stage in their lives. Often it is only temporary, caused by an increase in the amount, or intensity, of training or work.

Tiredness usually disappears as the body adapts to the new workload. But tiredness can be a chronic condition that may need further investigation. Causes may be stress related or simply a lack of sleep. Underlying medical conditions also need to be considered.

What is stress?

Stress is an interaction between people and their environment, and is the awareness of not being able to cope with the demands of this environment, when this realisation is of concern to the person, in that both are associated with a negative emotional response.

Stressors

Stressors are events or circumstances that may lead to the perception that physical or psychological demands are about to be exceeded. There can be several types and they can arise in and out of work.

For example, work related stressors may be:

Inevitable: For example, being posted to a new job, learning a new skill, the difficulty of being deployed at short notice, unpredictable emergencies in the workplace and intrinsic difficulties in the work such as working in a competitive industry.

Avoidable: For example, undertaking hazardous work for too many hours each week, for long periods, in a physically demanding environment, producing multiple reports that no one reads, inhospitable or dangerous physical environments, no performance feedback or only negative feedback and no interest shown by superiors in helping problems.

Non work related stressors may include:

Personal: Relationship, child or other family problems, financial difficulties.

Intrinsic: Feelings of not coping may just arise from within, with no apparent stressors being discernible.

Creating a healthy work environment reduces stress. Healthy work promotes a good outcome, both in the workplace and in the individual. By maintaining a balance between work and non-work activities, we are better able to manage our level of stress.

Next edition – managing fatigue.

Manage workplace stress Identify stressors that are potential workplace hazards. Create a healthy work program by identifying causes of stress in the workplace and develop control measures for them. Take regular breaks away from the computer. Make sure you receive an ergonomic assessment of your area of work. The wrong height of your desk, chair or computer can add stress to your body.

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