HOW TO DEAL WITH TRAUMA AT WORK

This advice draws on advice from professionals in the field. It is designed to be used as a starting point, not a complete set of resources.

Trauma is more likely to be experienced when a person perceives the incident to be:

Trauma can be triggered by a range of events. Everyone is different. Potential trauma in the workplace could include exposure to:

Stressful events – robbery, racial vilification, collapse of someone in the business, death, grief, suicide, accident or injury
Organisational stressors – bullying, threats, harassment, betrayal, maliciousness, extreme isolation, chronic pressure, unresolved conflict, toxic work environment, uncertainty, fear for the future, downsizing or fear of unemployment
Physical stressors – noise, chaotic environment, sense of no control over space, fear for physical safety, harsh or flashing lights, extremes of heat or cold, working amid construction, and other adverse physical conditions
External threats – evacuation, lockdown, fire or robbery

Here are our suggestions on how to deal with trauma:

Have a plan. Keep it simple. Ensure it is well known. It should be based on a designated person in the business guiding the response.
Training. Ensure the person responsible for handling trauma is professionally trained for this in the workplace.
Have a designated safe place. This has to be somewhere someone who has experienced trauma can immediately be situated for immediate relief.
Advise family as soon as possible. You should have these details easily accessible in employee record.
Ensure professional support. The GP or the responding essential service - police, fire, ambulance - have access to resources, which you should leverage.
Help beyond the initial trigger. This means guiding access to support, providing time off, maintaining a supportive relationship.
Meet their needs. Ensure you understand the needs of the person who experienced trauma and, as mush as possible, meet those needs.
Get help yourself. Being the leader can itself be stressful, possible compromising your own health. You can't help others if you are not helped yourself.

See also our mental health plan advice as it relates to this topic.