Psychological Risk Assessment
What is a psychological risk assessment?
In Germany, employers must carry out a regular psychological risk assessment. This involves companies assessing the psychological stress factors of their employees. The core of this psychological risk assessment is the examination of working conditions that can cause psychological stress.
Various components are examined for the risk assessment. These include first and foremost:
- the intensity of the work
- the organization of work
- working hours and the associated breaks
- environmental factors such as noise, dust or room climate
- the general working atmosphere
How does a psychological risk assessment work?
A psychological risk assessment is a very extensive process. Several parties are involved in determining the risk potential. These include members of the management, company doctors, occupational safety specialists and the works council. The legislator prescribes certain procedures for the risk assessment. With the help of our psychologists, we support you in the psychological risk assessment and our psychologists also provide appropriate training.
The individual steps of the risk assessment
In principle, the psychological risk assessment is carried out in several steps.
- Determination of the areas of activity to which the risk assessment applies
- Survey of mental stress at work
- Determining the degree of stress
- Finding and implementing suitable measures to reduce stress
- Monitoring the measures
- Updating the risk potential
- Detailed documentation
Our psychologists are on hand to provide you with advice and support for the risk assessment.
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Areas of activity and mental stress
In order to enable a risk assessment, individual activities in the company are grouped into different types of activity. The work that employees carry out is very different and therefore involves different types of stress.
Mental stress is reflected in days of absence, the number of sick days and employee turnover. In addition, certain questionnaires are used for the survey. Here, too, we support you with our psychologists. The data obtained can be used to determine which psychological stresses occur where and what measures can be taken to avoid them.
How is mental stress assessed?
There are no threshold values for recognizing mental stress as such. In most cases, these potential dangers become apparent during employee surveys. Alternatively, known values from the industry that other companies have determined can also be used. However, the use of ready-made questionnaires is less suitable for an employee survey, as these are not adapted to the situations in different industries.
Developing and implementing measures
Finally, certain measures are developed in order to keep mental stress to a minimum. A strategic approach is taken and those measures that are considered urgently necessary are tackled first. These are measures that take immediate effect or measures that affect individual departments in the company. One example of this is the working atmosphere. If negative tensions prevail here, they must be eliminated first. Of course, the employees themselves can also be involved in this process.
Some initiated measures take effect relatively quickly. If noise is a problem, appropriate noise protection measures can be taken. A negative working atmosphere can be defused through regular discussions and meetings. Communication within the company plays a particularly important role here.
Effectiveness monitoring and documentation
Last but not least, the measures introduced are also monitored for their success. This monitoring of success is also required by law. The individual methods used as part of the risk assessment must also be documented in writing. This documentation must clearly show which measures were taken and whether they were effective.
In any case, a psychological risk assessment is an extensive task. With the help of psychologists, it is possible to develop suitable measures and implement them in a targeted manner. Our psychologists will also be happy to advise you on site and provide appropriate training.
A psychological risk assessment is mandatory
In any case, a risk assessment is mandatory for every company in Germany. If it is not carried out, the state authority for occupational safety can demand this step. Failure to comply with this obligation constitutes an administrative offense and can be punished with fines of up to 25,000 euros.
However, a risk assessment also has numerous advantages for companies. Better working conditions and a good working atmosphere also increase employee motivation and performance. For this reason, a risk assessment should not just be seen as a chore, but also as an opportunity for the further development of the company.
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If you have any questions about psychological risk assessment, please contact us. We will be happy to support you.
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