[Clinical approach to workers occupationally exposed to negative stress by the occupational health physician]

Following the activation of new norms requiring that all occupational risks including psychosocial risks be evaluated and prevention programs activated, the occupational physician is now faced with new tasks and is expected to modify his role and function. Care and monitoring of stressed workers demand a higher participation in and an adaptation to the different ways in which stress shows up and has consequences on workers health and wellbeing. A subjects suffering of a stress-related disorder asks for a prompt solution be it medical or a job reorganization intervention in order to guarantee the prosecution of his job while the burnout affected subject rather points to leave the situation, to move to another responsibility or no responsibility even when this means abandoning a life choice. The subject suffering for a mobbing situation asks for justice, an intervention to stop the devastating mechanism and the recognition of the actors of his suffering. The three situations ask for differentiated interventions on the part of the occupational physician but all three require attention, participation, time and change from only medical assistance to a caring attitude and an active participation lasting in time.