The Strain and Burnout Within the EHS Profession
Usually, safety at work means wearing protective clothing, taking part in safety drills, or seeing warning signs. What happens to the people who are responsible for all of that? Every day, EHS professionals sacrifice their mental and emotional well-being to look after others.
There is a lot of stress involved in EHS work, and this stress is only growing. Many times, people only notice it when they are exhausted. As a result, what causes this stress, and how can EHS professionals ensure they stay healthy, productive, and mentally strong in these demanding jobs?
Reason Behind the Pressure of Being in EHS
The job of an EHS professional is not limited to making policies or completing inspection lists. That means taking care of people’s lives every single day. Some industries have work tasks where one mistake can lead to severe injury or death. It’s hard to turn off that kind of pressure once you leave work. Still, there’s more to the stress than just the big challenges.
Many people in EHS management encounter:
- There is not enough help from managers
- Doing work that is not part of their job
- Too high hopes
- Not enough money and supplies
- The safety of people being sacrificed for company interests
The gap between what a company says about safety and what happens is a major cause of stress. While companies say they put safety first, when it comes to productivity, safety often comes second.
Almost two-thirds of EHS professionals said their job stress has gone up, and more than half are putting in longer hours. In that study, 69% of people representing workplace stress in EHS stated that stress is the biggest risk for employees.
How EHS Professionals Show Signs of Work-Related Stress
The problem with work-related stress is that it often comes on slowly without you noticing. In the beginning, it could just seem like you’re tired. Still, if left unchecked, it may develop into burnout, anxiety, or depression.
Be alert for these warning signs:
- Never-ending tiredness or not being able to sleep
- Problems with focus
- Experiencing extreme emotional fatigue
- Having panic attacks or feeling short of breath
- Feeling angry or irritable
- Feeling less inspired about a job that used to be important to you
If you recognize any of these signs, you’re not the only one, and you should start taking steps to help yourself.
How to deal with it?
Your job is to keep others safe during your career. You should get the same attention and help. You can use these tips to reduce stress at work in EHS and look after your mental health.
Establish rules and make sure you leave the office on time
Of course, emergencies can occur. You don’t have to be there for your child every minute of every day. Workers in France are now able to disconnect from work outside of normal hours. If you work more than 11 hours a day, your chances of depression rise. Don’t let working too much take away your calmness.
Get Up and Move
Working out your body can also strengthen your brain. Getting out for a 15-minute walk can help you concentrate, cheer you up, and lower your stress level. Exercising moderately 5 times a week may ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Eat and Drink Wisely
Drinking too much caffeine can lead to anxiety and upset your sleep. In addition, drink water, herbal teas, and keep to a regular eating schedule. A 2014 study showed that eating more fruits and vegetables was linked to greater well-being.
Discuss the problem with a professional.
It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. You’re human. You can share your thoughts with a colleague, mentor, or professional. A simple conversation over lunch could help you feel a little better.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness helps you handle stress and respond more calmly to difficulties. Just taking a few deep breaths and concentrating for 30 seconds may help you.
Make Your Processes More Efficient
A list full of tasks can make your mind feel messy. Use various tools or software to monitor what you do, set up reminders, and organize your calendar. A small amount of planning helps avoid a rush at the last moment.
Moving the Culture: Why Managers Need to Lead
Individual actions matter, but companies should step up as well. Most of the time, EHS stress is caused by leaders. If leadership doesn’t back safety programs, EHS professionals must tackle the challenges by themselves. A shift to Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) is what we require. This model motivates companies to pay attention to what their workers say, value their expertise, and view them as partners.
If safety teams were treated equally to revenue teams, with the same recognition, resources, clear information, manageable jobs, and a real voice in decisions, work would feel much different.
Conclusion
The job can be stressful, but it shouldn’t become more important than everything else. The work you do as an EHS professional is more significant than that of most. You’re keeping people safe, ensuring workplaces are safe, and avoiding disasters. You can’t give what you don’t have. Remember to look after yourself as you do for others, because to give your 100%, you need to be fine physically as well as mentally.
