Campaign targets stress at work

EU-OSHA's Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress’ is a campaign open to organisations and individuals at local, national and European levels.

Martin O'Halloran, CE of the Health and Safety Authority, said: "A positive psychosocial work environment can enhance the health and well-being of workers and stimulate increased productivity. Good business performance with low absenteeism and staff turnover rates can be achieved as a result. This campaign emphasises that managing stress and psychosocial risks at work has significant benefits for workers, employers and the exchequer".

"There is a lot of misunderstanding and sensitivity around psychosocial risks in the workplace and there is still a stigma around mental health. Although tackling work-related stress and psychosocial risks may seem challenging, it can be managed just like any other workplace safety and health issue, in a logical and systematic way. There are multiple positive outcomes in tackling psychosocial risks; it creates a healthy work environment in which workers feel valued, the workplace culture is more positive and, consequently, business performance improves".

The winners of the Irish leg of the 2014 European Good Practice Awards have been announced: Focus Ireland and Navan Dairy Discussion Group have been chosen to represent Ireland in the European leg of the competition and will go forward to compete on the European stage.

Martin O'Halloran said: "I congratulate Focus Ireland and Navan Dairy Discussion Group on the commitment they have shown to managing psychosocial risks in their work environments and wish them every success in the European leg of the competition. The standard of entry was very high and it is encouraging that many organisations are taking the psychological welfare of their employees very seriously".