Psychosocial Psychosocial Considerations Considerations

of the Workplaceof the Workplace

Working HoursWorking HoursShiftworkShiftwork

Human Behaviour Human Behaviour Biopsychosocial modelBiopsychosocial model

Mental DistressMental DistressOccupational ill-healthOccupational ill-health

Dr. Craig JacksonDr. Craig JacksonSenior Lecturer in PsychologySenior Lecturer in Psychology

BCUBCU

““Peoples’ health should be Peoples’ health should be no worse at the end of a no worse at the end of a working day than it was at the working day than it was at the start”start”

M.J. Harrington M.J. Harrington (1997)(1997)

““People who work sitting People who work sitting down get paid more than down get paid more than people who work standing people who work standing up”up”

Ogden Nash Ogden Nash (1902 - 1971)(1902 - 1971)

Core Occupational Diseases (EU)Core Occupational Diseases (EU)

ChemicalChemical ChemicalChemical BiologicalBiological PhysicalPhysical PhysicalPhysicalInorganicInorganic OrganicOrganic DustsDusts OthersOthers

CadmiumCadmium CSCS55 ZoonosesZoonoses AsbestosAsbestos RadiationRadiation

ChromiumChromium BenzeneBenzene HepatitisHepatitis Silica(te)Silica(te) NIHLNIHL

MercuryMercury ChlorineChlorine TBTB MesotheliomaMesothelioma

CataractCataract

ManganeseManganese AromaticsAromatics VibrationVibration

NickelNickel P.aromaticsP.aromatics

DermatitisDermatitis

LeadLead IsocyanatesIsocyanates

2121stst Century Workplaces Century Workplaces

• Global companies and operationsGlobal companies and operations

• Leaner & Meaner managersLeaner & Meaner managers

• Gender issuesGender issues

• Disability issuesDisability issues

• Migrant issuesMigrant issues

• Longer & less fixed working hoursLonger & less fixed working hours

• Shorter contractsShorter contracts

• Dirty jobs out-sourced Dirty jobs out-sourced

Regulation of working hoursRegulation of working hours

1800 – 19001800 – 190012 hour days & 6 day weeks12 hour days & 6 day weeks

Thomas Paine 1737 - 1809Thomas Paine 1737 - 1809Age of ReasonAge of ReasonRights of ManRights of Man

Annie Besant 1847 – 1933Annie Besant 1847 – 1933Reformist movementReformist movementFabian SocietyFabian SocietySecular SocietySecular Society

““Fruits of philosophy”Fruits of philosophy” “The Link”“The Link” “White slavery in London”“White slavery in London”1889 1889

Humanitarian concerns influenced changeHumanitarian concerns influenced change

48 hour week + regular rest = increased productivity48 hour week + regular rest = increased productivity

Regulation of working hoursRegulation of working hours

1900 – 19701900 – 1970progressive reduction in working hoursprogressive reduction in working hours

traditional work patternstraditional work patterns

1970 1970 working hours increaseworking hours increase

shiftwork increasesshiftwork increasesirregular hours increaseirregular hours increase

24 hour processing24 hour processingtechnologytechnology

unpaid extended hoursunpaid extended hoursflexible workingflexible working

annualised hoursannualised hours

Regulation of working hoursRegulation of working hours

Linear Assumption of workers and productivityLinear Assumption of workers and productivity

timetime

units

units

assumptionassumption realityreality

units

units

timetime

Pieter Bruegel 1563Pieter Bruegel 1563

Wembley StadiumWembley Stadium326.5 Million pounds – Multiplex 2002326.5 Million pounds – Multiplex 2002

730730 Million poundsMillion pounds

British LibraryBritish Library32 Million pounds – estimate32 Million pounds – estimate

511 Million pounds – 10 yrs late511 Million pounds – 10 yrs late

Scottish AssemblyScottish Assembly37 Million pounds – estimate37 Million pounds – estimate

431 Million Pounds – 3 yrs late431 Million Pounds – 3 yrs late

PaddyPower .comPaddyPower .com

Organisational PsychologyOrganisational Psychology

FatigueFatigue StressStress

@#

Pilot FatiguePilot Fatigue

““NNodding off”odding off”

Uncontrolled spontaneous episodes of sleepUncontrolled spontaneous episodes of sleep

Can last seconds or minutesCan last seconds or minutes

Disengages from reality and becomes unresponsiveDisengages from reality and becomes unresponsive

Fail to respond to outside informationFail to respond to outside information

Aircraft cruising at 450 knots on glide path can travel nearly Aircraft cruising at 450 knots on glide path can travel nearly 730 feet during a one-second lapse.730 feet during a one-second lapse.

123 feet

Near Misses and HitsNear Misses and Hits

Headlines of 1Headlines of 1stst Gulf War Gulf War

BABY IS GULF WAR BABY IS GULF WAR SYNDROME VICTIMSYNDROME VICTIM

JABS LINKED TO GULF WAR JABS LINKED TO GULF WAR SYNDROMESYNDROME

MORE THAN 10,000 DEAD MORE THAN 10,000 DEAD FROM GULF WAR SYNDROME!FROM GULF WAR SYNDROME!

GWS and Yank’s gift of GWS and Yank’s gift of Coca-ColaCoca-Cola

Regulation of working hoursRegulation of working hours

Environmental effects upon PerformanceEnvironmental effects upon Performance

Disturbed concentrationDisturbed concentration

Impaired memoryImpaired memory

Impaired decision makingImpaired decision making

Mood changesMood changes

Sleep disturbanceSleep disturbance

Increased risk takingIncreased risk taking

Paying Attention!Paying Attention!

(Dealing with) Interpersonal Relationships(Dealing with) Interpersonal Relationships

Ability TestingAbility Testing

Employee SelectionEmployee Selection

Occupational RehabilitationOccupational Rehabilitation

2121stst Century White Satanic Mills Century White Satanic Mills

Deviance in the WorkplaceDeviance in the Workplace

Coping with Extreme HoursCoping with Extreme Hours

Emerging issues for Employers . . . 1Emerging issues for Employers . . . 1

+ Workability for the UK+ Workability for the UK

++ Remote & isolated workingRemote & isolated working

++ HomeworkingHomeworking

++ Rural OHRural OH

++ Vocal health – “communication age”Vocal health – “communication age”

++ ObesityObesity

++ NSBSNSBS

+ “Workaholism”+ “Workaholism”

Emerging issues for Employers . . . 2Emerging issues for Employers . . . 2

++ Drugs and AlcoholDrugs and Alcohol

++ AgeingAgeing

++ New technologiesNew technologies

++ New industriesNew industries

++ Vocational rehabilitationVocational rehabilitation

++ Genetic screeningGenetic screening

++ Psychosocial surveillance Psychosocial surveillance

Difficult to Access PopulationsDifficult to Access Populations

• Disenfranchised / Excluded peopleDisenfranchised / Excluded people

• Research-Poor occupationsResearch-Poor occupationse.g. cleaners, au pairs, farm workerse.g. cleaners, au pairs, farm workers

• Disabled workersDisabled workers

• Migrant communitiesMigrant communities

• Immigrant workersImmigrant workers

• Illegal cash workersIllegal cash workers

Can we now have access please?Can we now have access please?

Deep Vein ThrombosisDeep Vein Thrombosis

• DVT likely to occur at workDVT likely to occur at work

• Long-term postures at VDUsLong-term postures at VDUs

• Prolonged working periodsProlonged working periods

• Increased risk of obesityIncreased risk of obesity

• Chairs and workstationChairs and workstation

• Increased risk from respiratory and urinary infectionsIncreased risk from respiratory and urinary infections

Obesity & Odd Body ShapesObesity & Odd Body Shapes

Different problems but similar anthropometric outcomesDifferent problems but similar anthropometric outcomes

Poor-fitting PPEPoor-fitting PPE

Ergonomic problemsErgonomic problems

Equipment modifications requiredEquipment modifications required

Exposure abnormalities e.g. welding plumeExposure abnormalities e.g. welding plume

““Ergonomes’ imperative”Ergonomes’ imperative”

Vocal HygieneVocal Hygiene

Communication ageCommunication age

Most jobs have increased vocal useMost jobs have increased vocal use

Vocal load “unaware”Vocal load “unaware”

Equipment modifications requiredEquipment modifications required

Exacerbated by stress, alcohol, exposureExacerbated by stress, alcohol, exposure

European directive on working timeEuropean directive on working time

Organisation of workOrganisation of work

Min. daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours per 24 hoursMin. daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours per 24 hours

1 rest break where working day > 6 hours1 rest break where working day > 6 hours

Min. uninterrupted rest period of 35 hours per 7 day periodMin. uninterrupted rest period of 35 hours per 7 day period

Max. of 48 work per weekMax. of 48 work per week

Min. 4 weeks paid annual leaveMin. 4 weeks paid annual leave

Return to WorkReturn to Work

Longer off work = Less likely to return to workLonger off work = Less likely to return to work%

retu

rnin

g to

wor

k

10 2

0 3

0 4

0 5

0 6

0 7

0 8

0 9

0 10

0

months not working

<1 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

Waddell, 1994Waddell, 1994

““The good physician treats The good physician treats the disease, but the great the disease, but the great

physician treats the person.”physician treats the person.”

William Osler William Osler

Regional PictureRegional Picture

Self-reporting?Self-reporting?

Who’s best off?Who’s best off?

Who’s worse off?Who’s worse off?

Work Related Ill-Health in the UKWork Related Ill-Health in the UK

33 Million days lost per year33 Million days lost per year

Males lose more working days than femalesMales lose more working days than females

Days lost increase with ageDays lost increase with age

Low managerial / professionals had highest rate of absenceLow managerial / professionals had highest rate of absence

Most sickly occupations are health & social welfare, construction, teaching,Most sickly occupations are health & social welfare, construction, teaching,and researchand research

Work Related Ill-Health in the UKWork Related Ill-Health in the UK

Bakers appear highly with occupational asthmaBakers appear highly with occupational asthma

Metal workers appear highly with upper limb problemsMetal workers appear highly with upper limb problems

Mesothelioma deaths high in shipbuilders and asbestos workersMesothelioma deaths high in shipbuilders and asbestos workers

Stress, depression and anxiety highest in:Stress, depression and anxiety highest in:Public admin. Public admin. DefenceDefenceEducationEducationHealth workHealth workSocial workSocial work

Troublesome OccupationsTroublesome Occupations

Occupational Health PromotionOccupational Health Promotion

Pre-employment screeningPre-employment screening

Health Surveillance Health Surveillance

Health & Wellbeing PromotionHealth & Wellbeing Promotion

1) Pre-Employment Screening1) Pre-Employment Screening

Ensure new employee….Ensure new employee….

… … is fit to work is fit to work

… … has no pre-existing health conditions that could pre-dispose him/her…has no pre-existing health conditions that could pre-dispose him/her…

… … and increase risk of occupational disease / injuryand increase risk of occupational disease / injury

If health problem or pre-disposition is found, work with the employee to still If health problem or pre-disposition is found, work with the employee to still allow them to take the job:allow them to take the job:

1) Eliminate Risk1) Eliminate Risk2) Reduce Risk2) Reduce Risk3) Control Risk3) Control Risk

2) Health Surveillance2) Health Surveillance

Routine medicals / examination of employerRoutine medicals / examination of employerand / orand / or

Routine collection of dataRoutine collection of data

Ensure the current employee….Ensure the current employee….

… … is still fit to work is still fit to work

… … that pre-existing health conditions have not increased risk of occupationalthat pre-existing health conditions have not increased risk of occupationaldisease / injurydisease / injury

3) Health and Wellbeing Promotion3) Health and Wellbeing Promotion

Ensuring ways of working are engineered to optimize healthEnsuring ways of working are engineered to optimize health

1/3 of lifetime spent working 1/3 of lifetime spent working

Ideal environment to “educate” the populationIdeal environment to “educate” the population

Stop smoking clinicsStop smoking clinicsHealthy eatingHealthy eatingDiet adviceDiet adviceExercise clubsExercise clubsGym membershipsGym membershipsErgonomic design and planningErgonomic design and planning

Horizon Scanning…..Horizon Scanning…..

Hearing difficulties in Hearing difficulties in young workers

young workers

the ipod syndromethe ipod syndrome

Podcasting of

Podcasting of

materialsmaterials

Country of unpaid Country of unpaid

overtimeovertime

Workaholic nationWorkaholic nation

Workplace suicideWorkplace suicide

Home WorkingHome Working

Isolated WorkingIsolated Working

Fatter Fatter WorkforcesWorkforces

Crouch SyndromeCrouch Syndrome

Robotic Colleagues

Robotic Colleagues

VocalVocalHygieneHygiene