Across the UK, businesses are facing a hidden safety challenge. It’s not faulty equipment or slips on wet floors; it’s stress.
According to the latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) data, 1.7 million people suffered from work-related ill-health in 2023/24, with stress, depression and anxiety accounting for almost half of all cases.

For employers, that means record levels of sickness absence, reduced productivity, and higher operational costs, all of which fall under the wider duty of care defined by health and safety law.

At PHSC, we believe that managing well-being is not separate from managing safety; it’s an integral part of it.

The post-pandemic workplace has blurred the boundaries between home and work. Tight deadlines, rising living costs, and the pressure to “do more with less” have left many employees struggling to cope with their workloads.

Recent figures show that UK workers took the highest number of sick days in 15 years, with mental health now the leading cause of long-term absence.

The HSE’s current strategy emphasises that psychological safety and mental health should carry the same weight as physical hazards in a risk assessment.

Unchecked stress doesn’t just affect morale; it affects judgment, concentration, and decision-making.
In safety-critical environments, this can lead to increased accidents, reduced attention to hazards, and higher absenteeism.

A proactive approach includes:

• Identifying stress triggers through formal stress risk assessments.
• Supporting line managers with training to recognise early warning signs.
• Encouraging open communication and a reporting culture around mental health.

These steps create a safer, more resilient workforce and reduce the cost of absence and turnover

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a duty to protect the health, safety, and welfare of employees.
That includes mental well-being.

HSE’s Management Standards for Work-Related Stress outline six key areas to manage:

1. Demands
2. Control
3. Support
4. Relationships
5. Role
6. Change

Employers who fail to act on known stress risks could face enforcement action or reputational harm.

The message from the HSE is clear: well-being is health and safety ( HSE guidance on work-related stress).

Investing in stress prevention not only safeguards your workforce but also strengthens performance, culture, and compliance.

If you’d like to learn how PHSC can support your organisation, contact us today on 01622 717700 or training@phsc.co.uk to discuss our Stress Awareness Training or Stress Assessment for Managers Course.