Workplace stress on the way up

The Border mail.
Written By Sally Evans
27/06/2009

THE number of public servants taking stress leave is on the rise, a Border
workplace injury consultant says.

Dr Ross Andrews from Regional Occupational Medicine said stress was
becoming one of the more common workplace complaints as industries
were learning to better manage high-risk manual-handling tasks.

“Work-related stress is common in industries such as the public service
where there’s a very strong regimented hierarchy and management, and
where people have issues with people,” he said.“It is generally longer
term and almost always requires time away from the office.”

Dr Andrews’ claims have been supported by Public Service Association of
NSW south west regional organiser Michelle Mackintosh. “Workload is an
issue and also bullying and harassment which goes both ways between
colleagues and from management,” she said. “All departments are under
pressure trying to meet criteria handed down by the government and people
tend to take that out on each other.”

Reports of increased work-related stress follow new figures showing $60
million was paid in compensation in Albury-Wodonga in five years.

The figures were released as part of campaigns to improve workplace
safety by WorkCover NSW and WorkSafe Victoria earlier this month.

Dr Andrews said many of the workplace accidents and injuries that he
responds to could be prevented with simple measures such as a pre-
employment medical.

“Maybe if a company had done a pre-employment medical, then they
might have realised that that person shouldn’t have been in that job
anyway,” he said.