Prevention is already a familiar concept in the trades. You inspect equipment, identify hazards, wear the appropriate protective equipment and address problems before they become injuries or costly failures.

The same prevention mindset can support both physical and mental well-being. Some workplace risks can be eliminated or reduced through planning and design; others require practical tools that help you recognize when demands are building and respond early.

Prevention through Design

Prevention through Design (PtD) means designing work to eliminate or reduce hazards as early as possible. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers designing out hazards one of the most effective ways to protect workers . Before starting work, ask the following:

Can the hazard be eliminated?

Can the task or equipment be designed to reduce exposure?

Can a safer material, method or tool be used?

Can safety features be built into the work?

When hazards cannot be eliminated, personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe work practices are still important. The goal is to reduce risks through design when possible.

Build a Five-Minute Reset Routine

Stress can affect how you feel and how you respond to the demands around you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends identifying stress triggers and finding healthy ways to manage them, such as deep breathing, stretching, unwinding and connecting with people you trust .  A short reset routine can give you a simple plan to follow when pressure starts to build. When it is safe and appropriate to do so, try the following:

Step away briefly from what is causing the stress.

Take slow, deep breaths.

Reassess what needs your attention first.

Talk with someone you trust if you are becoming overwhelmed.

Your reset does not have to look the same every time. The important part is knowing which strategies help you slow down, regroup and decide what needs to happen next. Knowing which strategies work for you can make it easier to use them when stressful situations arise .

Use Micro-Recovery During the Workday

Recovery does not always have to wait until the end of the shift. NIOSH recommends frequent, brief rest breaks during demanding work as a strategy for addressing fatigue and notes that these breaks can be more effective against fatigue than a few longer breaks. 

Depending on the work and conditions, short recovery opportunities might include the following:

Taking an appropriate rest break during demanding work

Changing tasks, duties or body position when possible to reduce muscle fatigue

Doing a few simple stretches

Hydrating and cooling down when working in hot conditions

These actions are not substitutes for adequate sleep and recovery, appropriate staffing and scheduling, or effective workplace hazard controls; they are additional tools workers can use during the workday. NIOSH emphasizes adequate time for sleep and recovery and recommends frequent brief rest breaks during demanding work as part of fatigue prevention.

Prevention works at more than one level. Design out hazards when possible. Have a plan for managing stressful moments. Make appropriate recovery part of the workday rather than waiting until you are exhausted. 

The tools may be different, but the goal is the same: Reduce risk early and protect your ability to work safely over the long term.