Stress prevention for bus drivers |
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| The demands made on bus drivers Recommendations for preventing and combating work stress among bus drivers |
A large number of studies have been carried out on the work and health of bus drivers, particularly those operating in metropolitan areas. These studies tend to yield very comparable results, showing that the job of a bus driver makes high demands, yet offers only low control and low support. This combination spells stress and, consequently, an increased risk of physical and mental occupational ill health, leading to absenteeism and to decreased productivity of employees and enterprises.
The ILO manual Bus drivers: Occupational stress and stress prevention, by Professor Kompier (CONDI/T/WP.2/1996), reviews the findings of studies of the stress suffered by bus drivers. It goes on to make a series of recommendations on the prevention of stress based on a stepwise approach involving organizational commitment. The manual is available upon request from the Conditions of Work Branch. The following section is taken from the manual.
Studies show that absenteeism among bus drivers for reasons of sickness is significantly higher than in other comparable professional groups. Bus drivers who have to leave their jobs for medical reasons do so on average at a younger age than most comparable groups of employees. The main health problems which they suffer relate to the back, tendons and joints, as well as mental disorders and cardiovascular diseases.
The task of a bus driver is mentally demanding because it involves having to cope with conflicting demands. The company and the public want the driver to maintain good contact with passengers and to be service-oriented, for example through the provision of information to passengers on timetables, routes, stops, fares, etc. However, the need to provide service to individual passengers often conflicts with the requirement to keep to a tight schedule in dense traffic. A further demand, which may conflict with the previous two, is the need to drive safely according to traffic regulations and conditions.
A bus driver’s cabin is subject to several constraints, and the seat often lacks sufficient adjustability. Moreover, it is becoming more and more common for transport personnel of all types to be subject to threats and violence from disorderly and troublesome passengers. Work schedules are another major source of stress. Bus drivers often have to work on shifts, and even on split shifts, while their days off may be irregular and may not coincide with those of their families.
Based on practical examples, the manual contains a series of recommendations on how to prevent and combat work stress among bus drivers. It points out that stress management has traditionally focused on individual approaches, usually by counselling individuals or small groups of employees on ways to adapt to, or cope with various occupational stressors and/or their consequences. However, it goes on to emphasize the importance of combining this approach with measures to adjust the work environment to the abilities and needs of workers, through a better person-environment fit. The recommendations and suggestions cover several main areas:
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