Occupational risks in the electricity sector

Operators in the electricity supply sector face particular stress in the workplace, a study reveals. They have a high pace of work, which demands great precision and concentration. In addition to suffering from work overload and high occupational risk, they have to cope with considerable responsibilities in terms of decision-making and problem-solving.

The National Research and Development Institute for Labour Protection (INCDPM) in Bucharest has published a study assessing psychological stress for operators (dispatchers) in the electricity supply sector. The study reveals that this occupation can cause particular mental stress, due to work overload and high responsibility in case of errors that can result in injuries, loss of life or damage to equipment.

Psychological analysis of the activity

Regarding the content and nature of the work, the operative control involves two different types of functions: monitoring and command. Both functions demand continuous information receiving and processing on different channels (visual and audio), and using different equipment, such as telephone and radio communication, automatic transmitters to and from installations, and command, processing and display units. Dispatching is, therefore, a highly demanding and complex activity, and can lead to the overload of certain processes, functions, and sensory as well as mental capacities.

Assessment of psychological workload

The following indicators have been used in an assessment of the mental stress involved:

• work task demands;

• subjective assessment (how the individuals perceive their own physical and psychological state at work and outside work);

• psycho-physiological indicators (dynamics of certain parameters during work time).

Work task demands

The assessment of work task demands identified the main psychological workload factors relating to the impact of particular occupational constraints:

• work pace - high impact level: dispatchers are rarely able to set their own work rate;

• lack of work breaks - high to very high level: dispatchers cannot pause the work and cannot be replaced during the activity, thus, they have limited opportunities to take a break or leave the workplace;

• decision-making - high level: operators must cope with situations that demand decisions and problem-solving specific to a critical issue;

• responsibility - very high level: there is a high risk of causing accidents and damage to installations and equipment as a result of incorrect assessments, communication and/or decisions;

• precision - high to very high level: accuracy is essential in carrying out the different kinds of activities and operations, such as information and data processing, or making decisions and communications;

• work overload/underload - high level: the workload can vary widely, due to the unequal, random distribution of the volume of work (caused by unexpected events);

• ability of communication and cooperation with different types of persons - high to very high level.

Subjective assessment of workload

The dispatchers’ assessment of their workload correlates with the above results from the assessment of task demands. The workload was recorded at a very high level (9.1 on a 10-point scale), involving:

• mental demands - very high level (9.6);

• time constraints - high level (8.8).

Psycho-physiological indicators

The following indicators and parameters were monitored:

• blood pressure, heart rate - deviations were found only in critical situations;

• sensory - perceptive and psychomotor capacities recorded decreased at the end of the workday, indicating fatigue.

Physical health status

The following diseases were the most commonly recorded in the previous four years:

1. cardiovascular diseases (21.3%);

2. respiratory and digestive illnesses (12.9%);

3. genital-urinary diseases (12.5%);

4. problems with the central nervous system (12.2%);

5. metabolic illnesses (10.4%);

6. musculoskeletal disorders (5.9%).

Mental health status

The study used a diagnostic test to investigate individual symptoms in order to determine significant psycho-pathological symptoms leading to emotional, psycho-physiological and somatic disorders. The results of the analysis showed that:

85.6% of those tested were between normal parameters - comfort state and mental health, without signs of eventual significant psycho-pathological symptoms;

14.28% of the operators showed relatively pronounced psychosomatic symptoms: pessimism, tension, sleep problems, nervousness, irritability, rapid heartbeat, heartburn, lost of appetite, muscular contraction.

Assessment of psychological stress

An assessment of the general personality traits and of stress vulnerability revealed:

• balanced personalities, without particular personality traits that could generate inadequate or erratic behaviour;

• average and under-average levels of anxiety for 90% of the tested subjects.

The assessment of stress reactions found that the people tested did not reveal a serious likelihood of any pathological symptoms.

Conclusions

The study outlines the high level of mental workload associated with dispatcher activity, which can cause mental stress. Other stress factors include: time constraints, high responsibility, need for precision, etc.

No significant psycho-pathological or psychosomatic symptoms were found, with subjects showing a fair degree of adaptation to specific job demands. Nonetheless, long-term exposure to stress may result in future health disorders, and there is need for continuous monitoring of the occupational risks and physical and mental health status. Stress management must be a component of the general management of occupational health and safety.

Reference

Seracin, M. and Iordache, R., ‘Cercetari privind elaborarea unor proceduri si metode (indicatori/tehnici) pentru analiza diagnostic/evaluarea efortului neuropsihic si pentru identificarea factorilor de risc implicati in activitatile cu expunere la riscuri professionale majore” [‘Research regarding the elaboration of methods and procedures (indicators and techniques) for diagnostic analysis/assessment of neuropsychological load, and the identification of risk factors in activities and professions with major exposure to risk’], INCDPM, 2004.