Stress 'top health and safety concern in UK workplaces', TUC suggests

14 Oct 2016

A survey conducted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that stress is now the biggest health and safety concern within UK workplaces.

The data, which was gathered by polling over 1,000 health and safety representatives from around the UK, revealed that workplace stress has reached record high levels, with 70% of representatives citing it as a significant problem.

The survey also revealed that stress is one of the main contributors to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.

Moreover, concern over workplace stress is higher within the public sector than in the private sector, according to the data.

Workplace stress proves to be particularly prevalent amongst employees in central government, with 93% of health and safety representatives in this sector reporting it to be a major concern.

Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, stated: ‘Stress is becoming a bigger and bigger problem. Pressures of long working hours and low job security are being felt in workplaces across the UK.

‘Stress is preventable if staff have reasonable workloads, supportive managers and a workplace free from violence, bullying and harassment.

‘Anyone worried about their workload or being unfairly treated at work should join a union to get the support they need and their interests represented at work.’