ABSTRACT
The full extent of the incidence of traumatic events within the workplace is difficult to assess due to a lack of reliable data. It is known that many workplace situations meet the criteria for traumatic exposure. It is likely therefore that a large number of employees will have been exposed to situations in the workplace with the potential for causing them post-traumatic stress or other trauma-related disorders. While it is generally recognised that employees working in the emergency services face traumatic and distressing situations as a normal part of their working life, and as a result may suffer psychological problems (Mitchell and Everly 1993; Violanti and Paton 1999; Alexander and Klein 2001), there is less recognition of the psychological needs of workers who experience other forms of traumatic event in their place of work. Employees working in industries not routinely exposed to major incidents or disasters are less likely to be provided with awareness training and post-traumatic support (Income Data Services 1994). This chapter describes some traumatic incidents that are commonly encountered in the workplace and then goes on to discuss the main groups of employees who are at risk of exposure to traumatising situations. Finally, the chapter emphasises the need for organisations to take a proactive approach in dealing with workplace trauma.
