Stress management standard under development

BSI, the global standards, certification and assessment provider, and Nottingham University are developing a good practice guidance standard which will help those assessing and managing the risks associated with work-related stress.

Psychosocial risk management (the management of risks associated with work organization and the social context of work which have the potential for causing psychological or physical ill health) forms part of the European Council Directive 89/391/EEC, which stipulates the assessment and management of all types of risks to workers' health as employers' responsibility. There is currently no recognized standard or official benchmark for good practice for psychosocial risk assessment and management so the new BSI standard, called a PAS (Publicly Available Specification), will help assessors address this area of workplace health.

The standard, and accompanying training courses to be developed by Nottingham University, will be of benefit to HR Managers, Occupational Health and Safety Managers, therapists, managers of small and medium sized enterprises.