AN APPROACH TO MANAGING THE RISK FROM PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS
IN THE CONTROL ACTIVITY
Objectives: A comparative analysis and assessment of the outcome from the implementation of a systematic approach in managing the risk from psychosocial factors at work in two organisations of the public administration in Bulgaria, performing control activities.
Approach and methods: Parallel application of a common approach in managing the risk from psychosocial factors in the two organisations, covering successively: identification of the psychosocial factors - sources of work-related strain (inquiry among the staff about work-related risks, monitoring the working conditions); data about the temporary incapacity to work, workers with reduced working capacity, occupational accidents and diseases, and assessment of the health status of the employees in relation to the working conditions; interviewing the staff about their subjective assessment of the impact of the psychosocial factors at work on the cognitive functions, emotional reactions, behaviour patterns and health complaints; prophylactic examinations to identify early symptoms of the impact of psychosocial factors on health; assessment of the risk of a coronary event; defining the risk groups of employees; assessment of the risk from the impact of psychosocial factors (methodology for qualitative evaluation); program for control on the risk from psychosocial factors, with a focus on the risk groups; comparative analysis of the results from the two organisations; monitoring and evaluation of the efficiency of the measures in the program for control on the risk from psychosocial factors at work three years later.
Results: The parallel analysis in the two organisations with control activities confirmed the expectations that in the organisation with a wider scope of the control and higher public expectations to the results of the activities the subjective evaluation of the staff as regards the impact of the psychosocial risks and the risk assessments are higher. The programs for control on the risk are in line with the results for both organisations.
Conclusion: An approach was developed for managing the risk from psychosocial factors at work, followed by its parallel implementation in the two organisations with control functions. A comparative analysis of the results was made.
Key words: psychosocial factors, risk assessment, control on the risk.