5 Critical Workplace Factors That Adversely Affect Worker Health

Workplaces and working conditions have improved over the years, but various occupations are still one of the leading causes of health risks. Workplace circumstances, duty hours, and work nature can lead to several chronic and acute diseases. Therefore, be wary when experts advise regarding work-life balance. It’s not merely a fancy quotation, but overstressing your body and mind can create long-term health problems. If your professional activities are risky, intimate your employer about occupational health hazards. 

But if your work is exhausting your capacity to adjust, you should look for better options. Your safety and well-being are your responsibility. So, practice precaution and don’t disregard when your body indicates symptoms of illnesses. In addition, increase your awareness and learn healthy ways to carry out work activities. Enhancing your resilience is also essential to accommodate occasional challenges as you cannot just switch work.

The following sections explore workplace factors that adversely affect workers’ well-being.

1. Exposure to hazardous substances

Health challenges for workers increase if their job involves risky activities or exposure to hazardous substances. Employees in the construction, mining, and refining industries experience exposure to contaminants and chemicals. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore your safety. You can continue to work if you are fit to do so. And without protection, prolonged exposure to hazardous materials can lead to mortal health issues, such as mesothelioma. The disease develops after heavy and extensive contact with the asbestos substance. It is a cancerous illness that affects the respiratory tract. 

Unprotected and unsupervised contact with asbestos comes under professional negligence. And it’s a liable offense. If you or your loved ones acquired mesothelioma while serving in a profession, you can seek legal help. For instance, many US veterans have developed this cancer while serving their nation. However, they can consult with the mesothelioma veterans center and discuss their case. 

If your case justifies workplace negligence prerequisites, you can avail yourself of the wrongdoing compensation.

2. Job insecurity and low compensation

Have you wondered why people compromise on their obligations while fulfilling career-related requirements? Work is an essential source of livelihood, and it comes first for a majority of the population. They endeavor to ensure professional success, even if they compromise their health and well-being. But workers’ apprehension manifolds if their job is insecure. Job insecurity increases their psychological pressure and keeps them needlessly alert. They endeavor to fit in and please their employees. 

However, it is not easy to manage workload and adjust to unpredictable circumstances in an organization for everyone. Workers’ anxiety increases if they serve to their best without achieving professional objectives or acknowledgment from their supervisors. Low compensation against services is equally discouraging and undermining. They cannot compensate for their personal and family needs if their work pays less. Hence, they make unhealthy choices regarding survival and sustenance, which undermines their well-being. If that is the case with you, search and switch to a lucrative option.

3. Work pressure and stress

Stress is rampant in today’s workplaces, given stressful working conditions and commitments. Studies estimate that 65% of workers already experience chronic stress and fatigue. Yet, success means more commitment as organizations only care about their progress and productivity. Professionals take on more burden to match the speed of the clock. Employment contracts, benefits, and compensation mechanisms also trap them around workplaces. They can barely spare time to look after their health while satisfying their employers and achieving company goals. 

But the outcomes are devastating for their mental and physical health. They forget their body and mind can work for a specific duration. You may not realize how chronic stress weakens your body’s resilience capability. But if you exaggerate beyond your body’s stamina, you are bound to exhaustion and burnout. Even if you earn a few more bucks, committing beyond your capacity is deemed to fail you. You’ll eventually use your earnings to deal with emerging health problems. And sometimes, money cannot reverse the damage. It means unbearably exhausting work commitments cannot compensate for the damage to your health.

4. Extended duty hours and overwork

The amount of your work also contributes to your well-being challenges, even if your professional responsibilities do not involve dangerous activities. Long working hours and overwork are among the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Working for 55 or more hours (weekly) increases the probability of dying from stroke by 35% compared to a commitment of fewer than 40 hours. That’s not all. Longer shifts also affect mental health when your sleep duration and quality disturb. Overwork increases fatigue and stress, and both trigger severe physiological changes in your body. And the combined effect ultimately contributes to chronic mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. 

Though no one wants to be the victim of severe health issues, a career is inevitable for livelihood. But look for jobs with flexible working hours. Even if you have to accommodate long duty days, take precautions and minimize pressure on your body and mind. Utilize your breaks wisely. Go for walks in between extensive hours of sitting. Overdoing a particular position and movement exhausts your musculoskeletal structure. However, varying body positions can relax your body’s tension and help you continue a long shift easily.

5. Compromise on health insurance

Companies always search for ways to minimize their expenses and increase their revenues. Sometimes, employers compromise workers’ safety to reduce their expenditure. Many organizations also do not offer health insurance to their employees. However, professional activities can be unpredictable and harmful. Workers can injure themselves while carrying out occupational duties. Mostly, their injuries require off-days to heal. But recovering from off or on-duty health problems is even more challenging if workers do not have any safety mechanisms. If they cannot afford their health expenses, their health deteriorates, and recovery duration extends. 

Thus, health insurance is essential if companies anticipate productivity and punctuality from employees. With healthcare protection, they can invest their efforts and attention undividedly.   

Conclusion

Work demands can be challenging, but management and prevention can save you from falling ill or developing chronic illnesses. Healthy ways of performing duties are as essential as going to work in the first place. So, find work that does not stretch your working ability to harmful extents. Your health matters more than professional commitments and accomplishments.