As part of our Wellbeing at Work campaign we spoke to Alison, The Safety Elf  about her thoughts on stress and safety in the workplace and how you can improve your wellbeing at work.   1. What were your main reasons for starting up The Safety Elf? I am truly passionate about health, safety and wellbeing, and the positive difference it makes both to individuals and organisations. In the corporate world I felt I was being asked to compromise - I was actually told to tone down my passion for the subject because it could put people off! 2. Have you noticed an increase in work related stress since you started your business? I think there is more concern about flagging up stress issues at work, as people are increasingly concerned about job security given the economic climate. 3. What are your top tips for employers looking to implement a strategy to help their employees manage stress effectively and promote wellbeing at work? 1. To start with you need a measurable baseline – if you don't know what stress levels are within your organisation when you start, how will you know if any measures you have implemented have delivered improvement. 2. People also need to believe that information they share about their stress / stressors will not be used to penalise them, and that something meaningful will happen as a result if they do engage with their employer on the subject. 3. Don't expect it to be a quick fix. Genuinely improving people's wellbeing is a long term project. It takes time for new behaviours and different thinking approaches to be become the new normal way of doing things. 4. Do you feel that taking regular breaks throughout the working day can help to relieve stress symptoms? Regular breaks are great in lots of ways! Our bodies and minds like variety, and taking regular mini breaks helps to improve concentration and productivity. For those of us in sedentary jobs, desk based computer work for example, combining movement and a mini-break is ideal. People need to detach from their work and their work space to recharge their internal resources, and it can help to make us more capable of managing stress in the short term. 5. Recently there has been an increase in hot taps replacing kettles in the workplace. What is your opinion on instant hot taps and do you think they help to promote tea breaks and safety in the workplace? If hot taps are professionally installed in an appropriate area they do have the potential to reduce risks in the workplace. The advantage over traditional kettles? There is a reduction in potential water spills, which can cause slip hazards. Kettles can also cause problems with electrical and fire safety -overloading kitchen plug sockets, damage to cables and plugs and mixing electricity and water for example, whereas hot taps are hard wired. They have the advantage of greater convenience too, and walking to make a drink is a good way to take a movement mini-break! 6. Many studies have shown that staying hydrated can improve concentration levels and help with peoples moods. Do you believe that staying sufficiently hydrated can help to also relieve stress symptoms? Anything that makes it harder for our bodies to function optimally has the potential to increase our feelings of stress, and by the time you experience the sensation of thirst you are already dehydrated! Research has also shown that when men and women were dehydrated, they were more likely to feel tired, sluggish, and to need significantly more effort and concentration compared with when they were adequately hydrated.