• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Depression among workers is a safety concern

Lab Safety Advisor, June 19, 2007

We talk a lot about safety in terms of personal protective equipment, ergonomics, chemicals, blood and body fluids, but we never address an employee's mental status on lab safety.

According to a recent article in Occupational Health and Safety magazine, approximately 20 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of depression. Little is known about the impact of the illness in the laboratory.

Some employers assume depression is a personal matter left to mental health professionals. Unfortunately, two-thirds of those suffering from the disease do not seek treatment. Sometimes it is a lack of resources or the social stigma associated with depression.

If a lab employee comes to work with depression, it impairs them physically, mentally, emotionally, and safety is impairedâ?"not just their own, but also the safety of others.

According to the Mayo Clinic, depression exhibits itself by mood changes such as irritability, boredom, crying spells, etc.; cognitive change such as not remembering details or poor concentration; physical changes such as lack of energy, sleeping too much or too little; behavior changes such as conflicts with people, poor self-esteem etc.

Stressful occupations such as laboratory work are a factor in depression. If you or a colleague is exhibiting signs of depression, seek out professional help at once before it becomes out of control.

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive