Work Related Stress

chris1970

Hi, I am looking for some help and guidance,

I have been getting stressed at work with a job that I am going to have to start doing but the worry of doing it is causing Me to have panic attacks . I have explained to My line Manager that it is stressing Me out but He will not listen. It got so bad last week that I had to have some time off sick.
I went to the Dr. because I was having trouble breathing, heart palpitations etc. But He just turned Me away saying He does not deal with work related stress. Did not even listen to My heart or take My blood pressure.

Anyway I returned to work on Monday, only to have My line Manager give Me grief about not attending the training course and that I would have to do the job whether I liked it or not.
I have heard Today that the health and safety officer is going to track Me down and force Me to do the training there and then with Her.

The job I am expected to do involves Fire risk assessment's on block's of flats. So I would Be responsible for other people's lives,and I am worrying what if anything goes wrong. I don't think I could live with it if anything happened and people lost their lives.

This is causing Me so much stress that I have panic attacks on My way to work and whenever I see My Line Manager.

Any advice would be great.

zzzLazyDaisy

How long have you worked for this employer?

cavework

Why not do the training?
Once you have completed the training it is the company that will be held at fault if anything happens not you.
My staff have to undertake risk assessments every day.
Also as it is blocks of flats , the fire service would also have advised your company of any risks before your training

ohreally

chris1970 wrote: »

The job I am expected to do involves Fire risk assessment's on block's of flats. So I would Be responsible for other people's lives,and I am worrying what if anything goes wrong. I don't think I could live with it if anything happened and people lost their lives

What is your role?

Your employer cannot delegate their responsibility under the HASWA (& management regs) onto you.

cavework

A risk assessment should be a document compiled by the employer.
The assessment by an employee is a series of boxes that need to be ticked.
Anything they are not sure of should be immediately refered back to their employer.
Responsibility is not being delegated , it is just a normal process used when implementing H&S within any company

cavework

Babbawah wrote: »

You need to Google the Mental Health Act 1983 & pay particular attention to ALL of its sections.

You seem to have 'lost the plot' but you don't yet realise that we have cottoned onto it.

I recommend that you wear your mothers clothes & huddle in the foetal position in the furthest corner from 'them' whilst muttering the words "you are my only hope".

Only this can save you from the evil that is within you !

Logging off for the night as exorcism (or even the spelling of it) is not one of my strong points when giving advice.

theoretica

OP - go to the training, and tell the trainer your concerns - you won't be the first person with them. As has been pointed out you won't be dumped in the middle of a flat and asked 'are there any dangers'? Rather you will have a known a lot of things to check - and probably a list so it won't be a memory test either. Are the doors locked so people need the key to get out? Is the corridor full of cardboard boxes?

kmmnffc

Lol yep you are funny.

dickydonkin

ohreally wrote: »

What is your role?

Your employer cannot delegate their responsibility under the HASWA (& management regs) onto you.

Which is correct of course, however, a fire risk assessment would actually be a requirement under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (in England and Wales).

cavework wrote: »

A risk assessment should be a document compiled by the employer.
The assessment by an employee is a series of boxes that need to be ticked.
Anything they are not sure of should be immediately referred back to their employer.
Responsibility is not being delegated , it is just a normal process used when implementing H&S within any company

A risk assessment should never be a 'tick box' exercise. Checklists are fine to assist in compiling a risk assessment but there could be factors that are specific to a location, task, process etc.that may not be included on the form or incorrectly interpreted by the assessor.

An example comes to mind where I witnessed someone filling in a 'tick box' assessment form. One of the questions related to 'local exhaust ventilation' and she ticked it before asking me what LEV actually was! In this instance, it was the extraction system in a commercial kitchen.

A 'tick box' form will unlikely include secondary hazards that may occur when machines break down, become blocked or a chemical spill occurs. Personal factors such as young or inexperienced workers also need to be factored into an assessment.

It is also important that the assessor is competent - even health and safety professionals do not have the full spectrum of expertise to cover every type of workplace situation so I believe it is good practice to invite people who are/have worked on the item/task/process being assessed - ideally a team including operators,maintenance and union reps etc as their input will be vital.

For unfamiliar premises and operations, I will also request the company's accident reports as these are good indicators of where problems may exist.

Personally, in respect of fire risk assessments, I still believe that the Fire Services were the best people to inspect buildings and deem them safe by issuing premises a fire safety certificate.

OP - it is the duty holder's responsibility to ensure the safety of their premises and those within them - something they cannot 'delegate' away.

FBaby

It sounds like the stress is coming from issues you have rather than the job itself or the company. They are offering training yet you are the one avoiding it.

You need to sort out your issues with anxiety asap as at this level, it is likely to affect you with any job. Go back to your GP and ask to be referred to CBT. In the meantime, go to the training, listen carefully and take notes. Go home, review these notes, memorise what is essential. For the first week, re-read your notes every couple of days. If you have any questions at any time, ask your boss. Your anxieties will get better as you face them rather than doing anything to avoid them.

HappyMJ

chris1970 wrote: »

Hi, I am looking for some help and guidance,

I have been getting stressed at work with a job that I am going to have to start doing but the worry of doing it is causing Me to have panic attacks . I have explained to My line Manager that it is stressing Me out but He will not listen. It got so bad last week that I had to have some time off sick.
I went to the Dr. because I was having trouble breathing, heart palpitations etc. But He just turned Me away saying He does not deal with work related stress. Did not even listen to My heart or take My blood pressure.

Anyway I returned to work on Monday, only to have My line Manager give Me grief about not attending the training course and that I would have to do the job whether I liked it or not.
I have heard Today that the health and safety officer is going to track Me down and force Me to do the training there and then with Her.

The job I am expected to do involves Fire risk assessment's on block's of flats. So I would Be responsible for other people's lives,and I am worrying what if anything goes wrong. I don't think I could live with it if anything happened and people lost their lives.

This is causing Me so much stress that I have panic attacks on My way to work and whenever I see My Line Manager.

Any advice would be great.

Go to another doctor?