Stress is most common work-related health and safety hazard

Stress is the most common health and safety problem at work, a survey has found.

It is most prevalent in larger workplaces and is more common in London than in any other part of the UK.

According to the Trades Union Congress 's (TUC) biennial survey of its safety reps published today nearly two thirds say that stress is in the top five problems faced by the workforces they represent.

And more than a quarter of reps pick out stress as the hazard at work that most concerns them.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Stress can be caused by heavy workloads, cuts in staffing, long hours and bullying.

"The economic crisis and redundancies have created more anxiety about job security, and as the spending cuts begin to bite and even more jobs start to go, stress at work is bound to increase.

"Unions and employers must work together to combat stress at work as it can have a devastating impact on workers and a damaging cost on businesses."

The survey also found stress is most often found in the public rather than in the private sector with 68 per cent of public sector union reps expressing concern over the problem compared to 54 per cent in the private sector.