Quick answer: Electrical Distribution Trades Workers are one of the most stress-exposed occupations in Australia — ranked #10 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 59.8/100 against a national average of 47.4. The biggest drivers are physical environment and responsibility burden.
Electrical Distribution Trades Workers stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demands45.8 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burden85 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demands70.8 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control22.4 vs 24.5 avg
- Precision and monotony66.9 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environment68 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing. Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for electrical distribution trades workers
Compared with the average Australian occupation, electrical distribution trades workers score furthest above the norm on physical environment (68 vs 38.2 average), responsibility burden (85 vs 60 average) and pace and demands (70.8 vs 56 average). The single biggest individual stress factor is responsible for others' health and safety at 96.5/100 — against an all-occupation average of 57.3.
The occupation scores below the national average for lack of control (22.4 vs 24.5) and precision and monotony (66.9 vs 67.7), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for electrical distribution trades workers
- 1Responsibility burden
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety
96.5/100
All-occupation average: 57.3
- 2Pace and demands
Frequency of Decision Making
93.8/100
All-occupation average: 70.7
- 3Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
89/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 4Physical environment
Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable
88.5/100
All-occupation average: 52.3
- 5Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
88/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
All 22 stress factors for electrical distribution trades workers
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
45.8 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People28.2 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People53.5 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations55.8 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
85 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results85.2 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety96.5 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results88 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error76.5 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others78.5 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
70.8 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure77.8 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week79.5 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment44.2 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making93.8 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition58.5 vs 52.4
Lack of control
22.4 vs 24.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions18.2 vs 23.6
- Amount of Highly Structured Work26.5 vs 25.3
Precision and monotony
66.9 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks44.8 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate89 vs 78.6
Physical environment
68 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable88.5 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting85.8 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures83 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections4.2 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity78.8 vs 61.1
Understand these hazards
The elevated stress categories for electrical distribution trades workers map to recognised psychosocial work factors under ISO 45003 and Australian WHS legislation. Learn what each one is and how it can be controlled:
- Exposure to Violence →Whether workers face the risk of physical or verbal aggression at work.
- Exposure to Trauma →Whether workers encounter traumatic events or material as part of their role.
- Work Interaction →The quality of relationships and interactions within the team and organisation.
- Work Demands →The volume, pace, and complexity of what is asked of workers.
- Role Clarity →Whether workers clearly understand what is expected of them.
- Leadership →The quality and consistency of management behaviour at all levels.
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
Two control-related variables are reported by SafeWork with inverted polarity (“freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”). We reverse these and present them as lack of autonomy to make decisions and amount of highly structured work, so that a higher score consistently indicates greater stress exposure.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Electrical Distribution Trades Workers: how stressful is the job?
Electrical Distribution Trades Workers rank #10 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 59.8/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 96.8% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for electrical distribution trades workers?
The highest-scoring hazards are responsible for others' health and safety (96.5/100), frequency of decision making (93.8/100) and importance of being exact or accurate (89/100). Overall, the occupation scores above the national average in emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands and physical environment.
Which stress factors are lower for electrical distribution trades workers?
Electrical Distribution Trades Workers score below the national average for lack of control (22.4 vs 24.5 average) and precision and monotony (66.9 vs 67.7 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for electrical distribution trades workers. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.