With just days to go before World Mental Health Day, EMCOR UK has become the first organization globally to prove it prioritizes its people and be certified against BSI’s new scheme which is based on the international standard ISO 45003:2021 Occupational health and safety management — Psychological health and safety at work — Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks.
The new international standard, which was published earlier this year, provides guidelines on how to improve the psychological health, safety and well-being of workers. It underlines the importance of establishing a safe, supportive culture by identifying and tackling the work causes of poor psychological health and safety, thereby creating an environment which helps promote well-being.
Safety management system
The certification scheme, developed by BSI, will review the impact of an occupational health and safety management system and how it covers not only physical health and safety but also psychological health by managing psychosocial risks, which can give rise to physical, mental, cognitive and emotional harm.
Kate Field, Global Head of Health, Safety and Well-being, BSI said: “Mental ill-health at work resulted in 38.8 million days lost in 2019/20[1] and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will only have exacerbated the issue. The health, safety and well-being of workers is of paramount importance when looking at the effectiveness, efficiency and long-term resilience of organizations.”
Building organizational culture
Our purpose is to create a better world at work and a key element is our responsibility"
“ISO 45003 supports organizations to understand the issues, develop new, organizational level approaches, and proactively manage the risks in the short and longer-term. Supporting psychological health and safety at work has never been more important with stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression costing economies billions from reduced productivity, long-term sickness absence and its related costs.”
Keith Chanter, CEO of EMCOR UK, said: “We are delighted to be the first organization globally to have been certified against this highly relevant psychological health and safety scheme as it demonstrates our absolute commitment to building an organizational culture that fosters a safe and positive working environment in which all our colleagues can thrive. Our purpose is to create a better world at work and a key element is our responsibility, as employers, to protect and promote the physical and psychological health of our colleagues.”
Subject matter shines
Hannah Clark, Client Manager for BSI, said: “One of the really positive things about this job is being able to work closely with clients where the passion for the subject matter shines. This was very much the case with EMCOR UK and their approach to psychosocial risk management. The audit demonstrated an effective and systematic approach to the management of psychosocial risk, with feedback received from the staff highlighting the presence of a supportive, inclusive environment where staff can not only grow and develop, but also feel safe in discussing their personal and professional issues.”
Kate Field added: “EMCOR UK deserve huge congratulations in becoming the first organization in the world to be certified to BSI’s psychological health and safety at work scheme, proving they prioritize their people. It is vital for organizations to take a proactive, top-down approach to support the health, safety, and overall well-being of staff and we hope their achievement encourages others to do the same.”
