What do you do if your stress levels are skyrocketing in a high-pressure workplace safety role?

In my perspective, this is one of the key areas where most of the professionals who work in occupational health and safety fail in. A major part of assessing occupational health and safety in a workplace, is identifying the risk underlying to the work conditions. in case of mental pressure and peer pressure, these risks are seen inform of triggers. As we conduct risk assessments for workplace to reduce the underlying risks to a tolerable level, we need to identify and control these triggers that initiate psycho social hazards in our workplace.

Working in a high-pressure safety role can be stressful, impacting both well-being and performance. To manage stress effectively, it's crucial to take regular breaks, maintain open communication, and prioritize tasks efficiently. Staying updated through professional development, incorporating physical activity, seeking mental health support, practicing relaxation techniques, and setting clear work-life boundaries are also essential. These strategies collectively help manage stress and maintain high performance in safety roles.

In a high-pressure workplace safety role, identifying stress triggers is essential for effective self-management. Whether it's tight deadlines, heavy workloads, or challenging tasks, noting these triggers enables proactive preparation. By acknowledging stressors, individuals can devise personalized coping strategies like time management techniques or task delegation. This proactive approach fosters resilience, ensuring individuals maintain productivity and well-being amidst demanding work environments.

stay positive , and do work , as work complete the stress also reduces. take break for hvy work load. discuss the issue with other will help in find solution and reduce stress

Being aware of how work stress affects you. ... Writing down your stressors. ... Taking time to recharge. ... Honing your time management skills. ... Balancing your work and personal life. ... Re-evaluating negative thoughts. ... Relying on a solid support network. ... Taking care of yourself.

I find that prioritising tasks definitely helps me manage stress. One thing I have realised is that as an HSE professional you need to understand the subtle difference between what is urgent, and what is important. When I realise my stress levels skyrocketing, I distinguish between tasks that are urgent and those that are important. Urgent tasks require immediate attention, while important tasks contribute to long-term goals. I then break down my workload, and prioritise firstly on urgent tasks to ensure deadlines are met. To decipher between the two, it is always prudent to reach out to your line manager whose input will help you distinguish and prioritise accordingly.

In safety-focused roles, effective task prioritization is paramount for maintaining a secure work environment. Begin by discerning between urgent and important tasks, giving priority to those with immediate safety consequences. Tools like to-do lists aid in organizing responsibilities, mitigating the risk of overlooking critical safety matters amidst competing demands. By addressing safety issues promptly, individuals not only enhance workplace security but also alleviate stress associated with potential hazards, fostering a culture of vigilance and well-being.

Many times there is a lot to be done at a high pressurised workplace and if you do not prioritise your tasks you find yourself being like an octopus. What I used to do was to prioritise my tasks for the next day in the afternoon the previous day, that way I know which tasks to start with first before I clear my my schedule to do plant walks and tasks.

In safety-centric roles, incorporating regular breaks is imperative for sustaining mental acuity and reducing stress levels. Even brief pauses can yield significant benefits by allowing individuals to recalibrate and refocus. By intentionally scheduling breaks throughout the day and utilizing this time to disengage from work tasks, individuals can engage in activities that promote relaxation and rejuvenation. Whether it's a short walk, a moment of meditation, or enjoying a calming beverage, these interludes are not indulgences but strategic necessities for optimizing performance and well-being in demanding roles.

‘Wu gi bi fan’ as roughly translated stands for, ‘too much of good stuff is bad stuff’, is from one of my favourite Hollywood movies I saw growing up as a kid (Karate Kid, 2010). I often tell my colleagues and teammates that if they hit a wall, the best thing is to stand back and take a break and reassess the situation and with proper planning and controls start over again. Even though this might stagger progress and although is a time consuming process, the final output will be more effective and the quality of the result will be appreciable.

Your employer should have mechanisms in place to support, however if these are really embedded into the wellbeing strategy then they will be more than a tick box ? and pointing you in the direction of a counsellor. Support should include looking at underlying and root causes, risk assessments and culture rather than dealing with just the symptoms.

Speak Up: If you see a safety problems. Write It Down: Keep a note of any safety issues you find. Work Together: Help the safety officer come up with a plan to make things safer. Get Help if Needed: If the problem isn’t getting fixed, we might need to ask for help from outside the company. Keep an eye on things to make sure everyone is following the safety rules. If people keep ignoring the safety rules, they might get in trouble. Make sure everyone knows that staying safe is part of their job.

In my experience, journaling is something that I have since used in the past to help me regulate my emotions. I have leveraged on the benefits of journaling my stress triggers in the moment. This enables me to revisit my thoughts and actions, whilst assessing for tools that can assist me to navigate these triggers

if my stress level is beyond acceptable to me; then I need to ask myself " is this the right job for me"?? it is obviously good to apply all above mentioned steps in this article; but perhaps I should also consider changing my job !

The word “health” precedes “safety” & the word welfare is featured in the health & safety at work act 1974. I’m no high flying safety professional, but I am a passionate wellbeing activist. I’ve spent the last 5 years trying to campaign to have “Health” & “Welfare” put on a par with safety. Stress is a work place hazard as dangerous as fall. Or if I can be bold, MORE dangerous than a fall. I would want my safety team to be modelling a good example & tackling stress within their team as a hazard & demonstrating good practice to mitigate and lower that risk. Leading by example helps to promote the cultural change we need in the work place to reduce work related stress.

Working with organisations on wellbeing policies and culture change I have been lucky enough to be involved in this subject. Too many workplaces deal with the symptoms rather than look at the cause and culture. Effective tools we have used to work on company strategies include: - Culture surveys - Risk assessments - Focus groups

For me, I would rather recite Al Quran and engage in Zikrullah, as it really helps me to recover and reboost my motivation. Though there are many approaches, such as socializing with friends and colleagues, in addition, praying and making doa' by expressing your feelings humbly and seeking help from Allah."