Who Should Be Involved in a Stress Risk Assessment?

Stress risk assessment should not be carried out in isolation. Employers need to understand how work is actually experienced, which means involving employees and those who understand the roles, working conditions and pressures within the organisation.

Managers can provide information about workloads, responsibilities and operational issues, while employees can highlight pressures that may not otherwise be visible. Depending on the organisation, HR, health and safety representatives, occupational health or employee representatives may also contribute.

Consultation does not mean that every employee has to agree on every action. Its purpose is to help the employer gather reliable information, identify potential risks and decide what reasonable steps may be needed.

The people involved will vary according to the size and structure of the organisation, but employee input should form part of a structured assessment rather than decisions being based on assumptions alone.