Labour Research June 2014

Health & Safety Matters

Mapping pinpoints stress

Stress was revealed as the number one health and safety issue for NHS members of the public services union UNISON, according to a “body mapping” exercise carried out by the union at its recent health conference.

Body mapping uses a chart of the human body to mark work-related injuries and health and safety concerns.

Symptoms of stress can be identified using body mapping which can include pains to the head, shoulders and neck. The union’s health conference used body mapping to help stressed workers.

UNISON head of health and safety Tracey Harding said: “Public services have come under attack from both the government and parts of the media.

“At the same time, we have been expected to deliver more for less”.

In October last year, UNISON launched its health and safety campaign Cut stress not jobs.

https://www.unison.org.uk/upload/sharepoint/On%20line%20Catalogue/21828.pdf