1 The scientific measurement of psychosocial risks
Assessing suffering at work requires objective scientific instruments that go beyond subjective impressions. Christina Maslach's Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Robert Karasek's job strain model are among the most internationally validated psychometric tools in occupational medicine and organisational psychology.
2 The three dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory
The MBI comprises 22 items measuring three independent scores: Emotional Exhaustion, the feeling of depleted energy resources; Depersonalisation or Cynicism, cold, insensitive distancing from colleagues or service users as a defence mechanism; and Personal Accomplishment at work, a reduced sense of competence and professional effectiveness.
3 Karasek's framework: demands, decision latitude and social support
The Karasek questionnaire analyses the work environment along three axes: psychological demands, including mental workload, task volume and imposed deadlines; decision latitude, including autonomy in organising work and using skills; and social support, including help from colleagues and management. Job strain, the combination of high demands and low latitude, triples the risk of heart attack and depression.
4 The place of this approach within care
This approach establishes an irrefutable clinical diagnosis: it entirely relieves the worker of guilt by proving that exhaustion is not a character failing but the measurable consequence of a harmful work environment.
5 Constructive feedback and a lever for management change
MBI results are discussed within a protective, supportive setting. They enable workers to articulate their needs to occupational health services and provide a valuable lever for negotiating beneficial organisational adjustments within the company.