| A
stress risk assessment is required under the Management of
Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, only when an employee
informs their employer that they are experiencing stress beyond an
acceptable level, or they are suffering with a stress-related illness.
Examples of workplace stressors may be:
- Excessive
workload
- Workplace
bullying
- Inadequate IT
systems / support
- Perceived job
ambiguity
It is a requirement that the stress risk assessment be carried out by a competent
person. Failure to
comply with this requirement may render a stress risk assessment as
non-conforming and void.
|
On
a practical level, the main benefit of a stress risk assessment is to
reduce the likelihood of workplace stressors resulting in harm.
On a legal level, the main benefit of
having a stress risk assessment in place is that if a worst-case
scenario does happen and a workplace stressor does result in harm, your
organisation will have a legal defense.
These benefits rely on the risk
assessment being kept up-to-date, and recommendations made in the risk
assessment being acted on within a reasonable timeframe.

|