Your colleague is burned out at work. How can you help them without compromising safety?

Although it is easier said than done, offering support by being a good listener can make a significant difference. People often conceal their psychological suffering due to workload, and health frequently becomes a lesser priority in their lives. As HSE leaders, we are obliged to identify such issues and communicate them to management. In my experience, particularly in mega projects, individuals can suffer fatal heart attacks from burnout without others noticing any symptoms, even after passing initial and yearly medical examinations. Forcing programs such as regular mental health check-ins and stress management programs and fostering a workplace culture that encourages openness to mental health will help.

Make use of the resources for support that are accessible, such as mental health services or employee assistance initiatives. To identify and solve underlying concerns, it might be helpful to have an open discourse about stress levels and workload. Where possible, flexible work schedules might give your colleague the room they need to properly handle their tasks. By cultivating a well-being-focused and supportive work environment, you ensure organisational and individual resilience while also making the workplace safer and more productive.

D'après mon expérience, créer un environnement de travail flexible est crucial. Offrez la possibilité de travailler à domicile ou d'adapter les horaires. Encouragez les pauses régulières pour éviter l'épuisement. Organisez des sessions de relaxation ou des ateliers de gestion du stress. Assurez-vous que l'accès aux ressources de bien-être est visible et facilement accessible. Créez une culture de soutien où chaque membre de l'équipe se sent valorisé et compris.

D'après mon expérience, une communication régulière est cruciale. Planifiez des réunions hebdomadaires pour évaluer les charges de travail et ajuster les priorités. Encouragez l'utilisation d'outils de gestion de tâches pour une meilleure répartition des responsabilités. Implémentez une culture de soutien où chacun peut exprimer ses difficultés sans jugement. Créez des binômes de travail pour favoriser la collaboration et la mutualisation des efforts, assurant ainsi un équilibre sain pour tous.

Additionally, suggest putting in place programmes for resilience training and routine wellness check-ins. Employee stress management and coping skills development can be aided by these programmes. You can underscore to management how important these improvements are by drawing attention to the connection between worker safety and well-being. Burnout is less common and overall productivity and safety are improved when work environments foster a sense of support and value for individuals. With this all-encompassing strategy, workplace sustainability and effectiveness are increased as individual and organisational health are addressed.

Here's how to do it: Train leaders and managers in emotional intelligence skills such as self-awareness, empathy and relationship management. Leaders with high emotional intelligence set the tone for safety by modeling safe behaviors, fostering open communication and prioritizing employee wellbeing.