Oct 20, 2024
How to Prevent Job Stress from Leading to Recordable Incidents
BY AsphaltPro Staff
We’re all rushing to finish projects for the end of season. Add the recent natural disasters that require rebuilding-in-a-hurry in the Southeast of the United States to some contractors’ schedules and we have additional stressors this year. Researchers at CPWR have documented that job stress can lead to poor health and even injury, which should come as no surprise to people who think logically.
Job stress is the physical and emotional harm that occurs when the demands of the work do not match the worker’s abilities or the available resources. Consider a new laborer on a multi-day paving project that is behind schedule due to a plant breakdown. The plant’s status is a factor out of the laborer’s control but is a situation that creates stress for all members of the crew.
As each member of the crew tries to work faster, increasing paving speed and leading to starts and stops to wait on trucks, mat quality begins to suffer. The paving foreman’s stress skyrockets at this point and he begins to yell at the new worker whenever he makes a mistake.
We can all see how this is a recipe for anxiety and further mistakes. In fact, for this example, the new laborer skips breaks to handle extra duties and ends up suffering from heat exhaustion. The safety buddy assigned to help him suffers a psychological breakdown from not only the pressure of the project and day, but also from failing to notice the new worker was suffering.
Let’s look at how such incidents can be avoided.
While equipment breakdowns will happen and schedules will be interrupted in the real world, we can adjust the way we adapt to those situations.
CPWR writes the following tips:
- Ask for help if you are feeling overwhelmed by the work. Look out for your co-workers. If one is showing signs of stress, if it’s possible, offer to help.
- Tell your supervisor if you feel the schedule is creating pressure that is affecting your work or your health.
- Reduce job stress by taking good care of yourself.
- Exercise regularly. Exercise is a powerful stress reliever.
- Make sure you see a doctor if you notice any of the following:
- Frequent headaches
- Inability to sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Upset stomach
- Short temper
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