Companies urged to protect their employees from work-related stress
The need for group income protection (IP) and more rehabilitation services in the workplace has been highlighted by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) move to train its inspectors in stress matters.
According to Dr Jacques Tamin, medical director of occupational health consultants Interact Health, the HSE plans to target stress at health and safety inspections.
Speaking at a recent Swiss Life seminar on stress, Tamin said: 'Employers owe a common law duty of care to their employees, as well as the statutory law ' The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. An employer who provided a confidential advice service offering counselling and treatment for stress would be unlikely to be found in breach of duty, but problems in the workplace must be addressed, it is not enough to just give first aid.'
John Ritchie, head of distribution, employee benefits at Swiss Life, put the news into context. He said: 'This is a massive opportunity to advisers writing group IP, although just transferring financial risk through insurance will not do the job. Group IP underwriters are effectively insuring the attitude of the employer. The real risk drivers are absence, health and safety and training. IFAs should consult holistically along those lines.' He added use of occupational health consultants would be taken into account when assessing companies' premiums.
Tamin said an overall approach that would satisfy both the HSE and the civil courts would include having an official mental health/stress policy in place, a risk assessment policy, stress awareness training and access to counselling. 'Most employers with group protection policies should have little problem complying with this list, bar the assessment,' he added.
Stress is currently second in the list of occupational diseases, according to the Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity. It accounted for 37% of total occupational diseases in the year to March 2002, compared with 35% the previous year. Musculoskeletal problems remain the most common ailment, although the percentage as a whole is falling. Half of occupational diseases were musculoskeletal in the year to March 2002, compared to 56% the year before. However, it accounts for 44% of all long-term absenteeism in white collar workers, followed by mental illness at 28.3%.
