Work Psychology

HSL has a broad range of research capabilities, knowledge and experience in the area of occupational and health psychology. We use a variety of research techniques to address occupational health and safety problems involving human factors and psychosocial issues. Particular areas of expertise include:

  Work-related violence and bullying
  Work-related stress
  Shiftwork, fatigue and working hours
  Training and safety awareness
  Changing workforces and work environments
  Human factor aspects of incidents and accidents
  Work psychology research techniques

This is a growing problem in many workplaces, and there are some occupations that are more at risk than others. However, there are also many measures available to reduce the risks to employees. HSL's work psychologists have conducted several pieces of research in this area, for example:

• Good practice case studies for reducing the risks of violence to lone and mobile workers, as part of a three-year programme of work commissioned by HSE;
• Reviewing the training provided on work-related violence on a public transport service;
• Investigating the issues of work-related violence in small businesses;
• Reviewing HSE's guidance on violence at work.

Methodologies used have included case studies, interviews, questionnaires and focus groups. Our work psychologists are able to advise on good practice, investigate the effectiveness and cost benefit of different measures, and design and evaluate training on work-related violence.

  Work-Related Violence - Further Information

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Work-related stress

This is an issue that is becoming increasingly high-profile both within HSE and industry. It is included in HSC/HSE's priority programmes and HSL has worked closely with HSE on many projects in this area. For instance:

• Supporting HSE on the development of their Stress Management Standards, to be used by organisations to identify and target particular sources of stress;
• Delivering workshops on implementing the standards to high risk sectors;
• Developing the tools associated with the standards including the analysis tool;
• Acting as stress partners to a number of organisations implementing the process;
• Exploring perceptions of work-related stress in managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
• Investigating stress in farmers and the contruction industry;
• Studying psychosocial risk factors in call centres (HSE Research Report).

Techniques used include focus groups, questionnaires and interviews.

HSL also offers a stress management consultancy service to help organisations implement the standards.

  Further information on work-related stress can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm

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Shiftwork, fatigue and working hours

The effects of shiftwork and working hours can have serious implications, particularly in safety critical industries, but they can also have an impact on other aspects of employees' health. These job design factors can affect aspects such as fatigue, work-life balance, mental and physical health and safety. HSL' was commissioned by HSE to conduct a critical scientific review of the current literature available on working hours (HSL Report 2003/02, 'Working Long Hours') and have been involved in evaluating the impact of changes to shift patterns in safety critical industries.

HSL's resources in this area include the HSE fatigue index, which enables us to assess, and represent graphically, the level of fatigue associated with different shift systems or working hours. We have also used both the Fatigue Index and our knowledge of fatigue to assist HSE inspectors in accident and incident investigations where fatigue has been a potential factor.

We can also analyse performance, accident and sickness absence data, as well as assessing subjective alertness and individual adjustment to shift work. We can provide evidence-based advice on shift work rotas and are able to investigate the possible contribution of fatigue to accidents and incidents.

Training and safety awareness

Training is an important way to develop practical work skills and techniques, increase understanding of particular issues and influence behaviour. It is vital, and indeed mandatory, in most safety critical industries, but is also beneficial for imparting knowledge and skills on health-related matters, for example in the reduction of violence. HSL's work in this area has included:

• A review of the training provided to Incident Commanders in the Fire & Rescue Service, and to asbestos workers;
• Evaluation of the training on work-related violence for a public transport service;
• A review of currently available Safety Passport Training Schemes;
• An investigation of the attitudes of young people to health and safety to establish their safety awareness;
• A review of the information available on interactive web-based training and a review of the feasibility of an e-learning tool for violence;
• Evaluation of a local authority pilot training scheme;
• Design and delivery of training to a wide range of businesses, local authority inspectors, the probation service and others.

In carrying out these studies we have used techniques such as interviews, questionnaires and literature reviews. We can also conduct Training Needs Analyses, design, evaluate and review specific training programmes, as well as deliver training, workshops and events tailored to your needs and drawing on the relevant training theory.

  Training and Safety Awareness - Further Information

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Changing workforces and work environments

The demographics of the UK workforce are changing. For instance, there is an ageing working population, and such changes present new issues and risks in terms of health and safety. HSL is investigating the impact these changes may have on health and safety and are currently involved in a number of projects concerned with the workability of special groups of the population such as disabled workers, older workers or people returning from long term sick leave.

Work environments are also changing. For example, more people now work at home and there are increasing numbers of people working in call centres. We have investigated call centre working practices to assess their psychological impacts on employees and the results of this study have implications for call centres (HSE Research Report). To address these issues we have used industry-specific questionnaires and structured and semi-structured interviews (conducted on industry sites).

We are also able to investigate cognitive performance: mental abilities such as memory, perception, vigilance and reaction time can be measured using computerised test batteries. Cognitive testing can be used to investigate age-related performance changes or the abilities of other special groups, such as those that are being rehabilitated back to work following brain injury, or workers experiencing side-effects of medication. HSL has a number of test batteries available.

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Human factor aspects of incidents and accidents

Human factors should be considered as part of any comprehensive risk assessment or incident / accident investigation. Human error can be caused by a range of factors, from the individual not being properly trained, to poorly designed equipment, to the organisation having a poor health and safety culture. We can help organisations investigate and overcome these issues using methods such as Critical Incident Techniques, interviews and focus groups.

Work psychology research techniques

We can apply a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research techniques to meet your needs, including:

• Questionnaire development and analysis;
• Structured and semi-structured interviews;
• Case study methodology;
• Benchmarking;
• Design and facilitation of focus groups;
• Psychometric testing;
• Literature reviews;
• Fatigue index calculations;
• Critical incident techniques (CIT);
• Repertory grids.
  

  Research Techniques - Further Information

  Work-Related Violence: Taxi Drivers
  Shiftwork and Fatigue in Safety Critical Industries
  Health and Safety Issues in Call Centres

Further Details
Contact our Business Development Unit by telephone (+44) 01298 218218, fax (+44) 01298 218822 or email hslinfo@hsl.gov.uk.

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