MENTAL HEALTH & STRESS


TACKLING THE ‘WHAT-IF?’ ANXIETY


Peoplesafe offers some useful advice to help employers mitigate the mental health and stress risks for their lone workers.


Lone working has become part of everyday life for millions of employees – from field engineers and community nurses to housing officers, delivery drivers and security staff.


Health and Safety professionals are well-versed in mitigating the physical risks of working alone, but the mental health and stress implications can be less obvious, and just as damaging.


One of the biggest contributors to poor mental wellbeing for lone workers is what can be referred to as ‘what-if?’ anxiety.


• What if something goes wrong and no one’s there to help me?


• What if I’m threatened? • What if I make the wrong decision?


https://peoplesafe.co.uk/products/fall-detection/?utm_source=Trade+Media&utm_ medium=THS&utm_campaign=THS_LONE_WORKERS-Q325


In our most recent research, Peoplesafe discovered that one in five people reported being less productive when they felt unsafe and 47% of people said feeling unsafe harmed their mental health.


This constant background stress can erode confidence, increase the likelihood of mistakes and, in some cases, lead to absenteeism or staff leaving the role entirely.


EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE, AGGRESSION, OR ABUSE Public-facing lone workers are often on the receiving end when things go wrong. They might face verbal abuse from frustrated customers, intimidation from members of the public, or physical assault.


Even when the worker hasn’t experienced an incident, the possibility of something happening can weigh heavily. Staff may begin to dread certain tasks, avoid specific locations, or experience physical symptoms of stress such as headaches or disrupted sleep. Over time, this hypervigilance can tip into burnout.


Implementing measures to prepare and protect staff will help. Provide training in conflict management, de- escalation and dynamic risk assessments so workers can feel in control of situations. Equipping them with a lone worker app or device gives a discreet way to raise an alarm, speak to a trained responder and access help.


LACK OF IMMEDIATE HELP IN EMERGENCIES Perhaps the most common source of ‘what-if?’ anxiety is the fear of being injured, falling ill or facing a threatening situation with no one nearby. Even if nothing ever happens, the thought of being alone in a crisis can increase stress levels.


24


This can have real business impact: anxious workers may work more slowly, take fewer risks (even when safe to do so) or avoid challenging but necessary tasks altogether.


Using a lone worker service that allows workers to easily check-in and send their location during an emergency can provide real comfort and peace of mind. In a threatening situation, staff can raise an SOS alarm to be connected with a professional Controller who will monitor the situation and escalate to the emergency services if necessary.


INCREASED STRESS FROM RESPONSIBILITY Being the only person on site or in the field can mean taking on extra decision-making pressure.


Without a colleague to consult, even small choices can feel weighty. This can create decision fatigue and increase the fear of making a mistake.


Help by clarifying decision boundaries with lone workers. Provide them with clear guidelines on what they can decide independently and when to escalate, making sure they have a reliable communication channel.


THE PAYOFF OF PROACTIVE SUPPORT


‘What-if?’ anxiety is invisible – but its effects are not. It can undermine confidence, damage mental wellbeing and erode productivity. By tackling the root causes outlined in this article, you can turn lone working from a source of stress into a safe, sustainable way of working.


When lone workers feel supported and confident, they make better decisions, stay engaged and are more likely to remain in their roles. For organisations, that means fewer incidents, lower absenteeism and a workforce that performs at its best.


https://peoplesafe.co.uk WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42