Sypol's stress management programme helps Forth Road Bridge

FETA, which already uses Sypol’s CMS COSHH Management System for hazardous substances management, has worked with Sypol again by choosing SMS, its work-related stress management system that sets out “six steps to success” to achieve compliance and best practice.
The programme led the organisation through a simple process of identifying the areas that would gain the most benefit from reduced pressure on the workforce. Involving employees to reinforce the message that their opinions are valued was a key part of the approach.

Completion of the “six steps” has enabled FETA to put in place an effective action plan to manage the causes of stress along with an organisational stress risk assessment, which is a legal requirement.

And the programme has had the added benefit of assisting FETA to prioritise business improvements, taking into account the views of employees on what would benefit the organisation as a whole, so that they feel they are partners in the process and that their opinions are valued.

Barry Colford, Chief Engineer and Bridge Master of the Forth Road Bridge, said: ” When we began to look at stress management as an organisation, I was unsure of the benefit this would bring.

“However, after completing the SMS stress management programme ‘steps to success’, the business and organisational benefits have been apparent and the programme has aided us in prioritising our own business improvement plan.”