STRESS IS HIGH IN VICTORIAN DEFENCE MANUFACTURING SECTOR
Work can have a positive impact on wellbeing; but it can also have a negative impact.
No Stress M8 was developed to prevent workm8te stress and physical and mental harm.
Manufacturing workplaces are under increasing pressure to be productive and profitable.
This pressure is on your m8tes. No Stress M8 highlights the relationships between work-related stress and mental and physical injury, the common causes of work-related stress, and the best actions to take to prevent it.
No Stress M8 is a toolbox for you, so that you can take action to stop stress before it happens. So no M8 has to go home from work stressed.
WORK IS THE PRIMARY INFLUENCER IN CREATING A THRIVING LIFE
INSIGHTS INTO WORK, WORKER & WORKPLACE WELLBEING IN VICTORIAN MANUFACTURING REPORT
This report outlines the current mental health and wellbeing profile of the Victorian defence manufacturing sector. Insights gained from the participating workplaces highlight the key work-related risk factors that impact on worker mental and physical health and wellbeing in this sector. These findings provide a comprehensive, relevant, and detailed insight into the challenges faced by the manufacturing sector making a number of recommendations for action for workplaces to support worker mental and physical health and wellbeing.
MANUFACTURING WORKERS ARE AT A HIGH RISK OF SUFFERING FROM MENTAL INJURY OR HARM
The manufacturing sector records the second highest rate of injury in Victoria, both physical and mental, with 4,130 injuries in 2020.
STIGMA TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH PERSISTS IN MANUFACTURING
The demographic profile of manufacturing sector – ageing, blue-collar, male-dominated and culturally diverse workforce places workers at a high risk.
MENTAL INJURY IS COSTLY
On average mental injury costs 4X more and lasts 4X longer than a physical injury.
STRESS IS HIGH
Over 76% over workers report that they feel stressed at work.
57% say they are stressed at least once a week.
WORKPLACES HAVE A KEY ROLE IN PREVENTING AND MANAGING STRESS
Work is generally good for us, it gives us feelings of purpose and mastery, social connections and is the key element in creating a thriving life.
WHILE LEADERS BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO STIGMA WORKERS TELL OTHERWISE
Workplaces with gender balance closer to 50/50 are less likely to report the presence of stigma. Stigma prevents workers from acknowledging, disclosing or seeking help for fear of being judged.
MENTAL INJURY RATES ARE ON THE RISE
Physical injury rates have been decreasing over the last 10 years, mental injury rates have increased due to the rise in secondary mental injury. Secondary mental injury can occur as a result of a physical injury due to increased pain or worry from being away from work.
24 LOST DAYS
A stressed M8 can be off work for an average of 24 days per year due to ill health. Work demands and deadline pressures are the leading causes of workplace stress.
TWO BIRDS ONE STONE
Workplaces and leaders need to do is leverage the existing strengths of your workm8tes to reduce stigma and build social connection – this will lay the foundation of creating a thriving and psychosocially safe workplace. Helping out a M8 is a good way to increase social connection and help to manage stress.
WORKFORCE DEMOGRAPHICS YOU NEED TO KNOW
70% of the workforce are men
30% of the workforce is regional
Average age 44 years 4 years higher than the national average
Machinists and unskilled manual labour are the most vulnerable to work-related stress
WHAT ARE WRF (WORK-RELATED FACTORS) THAT CONTRIBUTE TO STRESS?
There are several known risk factors that contribute to a workm8tes' stress.
These work-related factors (WRF) are hazards in the design or management of work or the work environment that can increase the risk of work-related stress that overtime can lead to physical or mental injury.
Some hazards might always be present at work, while others only occasionally.
Work-related factors cover the type of work, the workplace culture and the physical work environment. They include both physical and psychological risks.
Just like no two jobs are the same, no two workers are the same. Certain workers are more susceptible to work-related harm. This risk is individual and can change across a workm8tes’ life.
FATIGUE CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE KNOW THE SIGNS OF A TIRED WORKM8TE
Manufacturing workers are at a high risk of increased workplace stress and injury due to fatigue.
Fatigued workers are more likely to be stressed and get injured.
Fatigue is a feeling of constant tiredness or weakness and can be physical, mental or a combination of both.
Fatigue is an acute and/or ongoing state that leads to physical, mental or emotional exhaustion and prevents people from functioning safely. Working long hours, with intense mental or physical effort, or during some or all of the natural time for sleep, can cause fatigue. All of these have obvious implications for workplace and public safety. Fatigue can also have long-term effects on health.
The work-related factors common in manufacturing that increase worker fatigue are:
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shift work
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travel
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working with hazardous materials
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wearing PPE
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operating heaving machinery
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exceptionally hot or cold environments
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remote or isolated work
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repetitive manual tasks, and
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work that is highly physically or mentally demanding
