SPOTLIGHT
WORKPLACE STRESS AT RECORD
LEVELS, SAY TUC HEALTH AND
SAFETY REPS
Stress is the top health and safety
concern in UK workplaces according
to a TUC study published on World
Mental Health Day (10 October).
T
he TUC’s biennial survey of more than 1,000 health
and safety reps around the UK asked them to pick out
the hazards at work that most trouble them and their
workforces.
Stress was at the top of the list in this year’s survey,
with 7 in 10 reps (70%) citing it as a problem – up 3%
since the last survey in 2014; a higher proportion than in
any previous TUC study. Stress is one of the main causes
of mental health problems, in particular anxiety and
depression.
• Stress is higher in the public sector: The TUC survey
found that concern over stress is higher in the public
sector, most affected by government cuts, than
the private sector. It is especially prevalent in central
government (where 93% of reps cited it as a top five
workplace hazard), education (89%) and health
services (82%).
Frances O’Grady, TUC General Secretary. Photograph: Wikipedia
•
•
Big rise in concern about stress at medium-sized
companies: Stress is the most common concern faced
by reps and workers regardless of the size of the
workplace. Since 2014, it has become more widespread
in some workplaces – most notably in those with
50-99 workers, where 75% of reps cited it as a top-five
concern, compared with 62% two years ago.
Stress levels rising across the UK: The survey also
revealed that stress is the most widespread concern in
all 11 regions and countries in the UK. It has increased
the most in the last two years in Northern Ireland (up
by 13% to 78% compared to 65% in 2014), the North
(up by 11% to 78%), Scotland (up by 8% to 74%) and
the South West (up by 6% to 81%). East Anglia (64%)
the South East (67%) and Wales (75%) have all seen 5%
increases in stress being reported as the main health
and safety concern at work.
PROSECUTION AFTER MAN
DIES AND ANOTHER SERIOUSLY
INJURED IN ROADWORKS
Liverpool City Council and two
of its contractors have been
prosecuted following two separate
incidents involving roadworks
on a busy city centre road.
O
ne man died and another was seriously injured
while attemp ting to cross Queens Drive in Liverpool
during major resurfacing works in 2012. Enterprise
Liverpool Limited and Tarmac Trading Limited were
contracted by Liverpool City Council to carry out the works.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how on 3 July 2012, a
74-year-old man suffered head injuries after he was hit by a
car while using a crossing at temporary lights.
In addition, on the 19th August 2012, 69-year-old Ernest
Haughton died after he was hit by a car while attempting
10
HSE INTERNATIONAL
to cross a single lane of traffic on the same road using a
temporary pedestrian crossing.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation
found that Liverpool City Council failed to ensure that the
arrangements for managing the roadworks were suitable,
including the appointment of a suitable co-ordinator for the
work.
The investigation also found that Enterprise Liverpool
Limited failed to ensure the designs for the traffic
management were checked or approved, the construction
plan for pedestrian routes and provision of barriers was
being followed, and at the time of the incidents, provided
no safe means of pedestrians crossing the works area or
the carriageway.
Tarmac Trading Limited, who were responsible for the
provision and installation of the traffic and pedestrian
management, failed to provide alternative assistance for