The modern workplace can be a hotbed of stress as orders must be fulfilled and deadlines met. This is a serious problem as, according to figures from the Health & Safety Executive, stress is the biggest cause of working days lost through injury or ill-health (almost 13 million per year). There are many causes of stress in the workplace, such as a heavy workload, tight deadlines and working long hours, but the very environment in which you work can be a contributing factor in raising your stress levels. Such environments are not confined to the office or the production line, they are so prevalent that we often see them on television and there are commonly used terms that we all recognise as referring to stressful environments, so here are a few.

Pressure cooker environment
This term is used to describe an environment where the atmosphere is fraught with tension as more than one person is suffering from heightened stress levels but there is no escape. Reality TV shows such as Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, where the possibility of a heated confrontation is very real, are good examples of the pressure cooker environment.

The personality clashes that simmer on Big Brother can be replicated in the workplace as colleagues who simply do not get on are forced to endure each others' company. And, just as Big Brother has the diary room where contestants can air their grievances, in the workplace a private word with a superior would be a good first step in resolving any personality issues.

Powder keg
A few notches up from the pressure cooker environment, the powder keg is so volatile that the tiniest spark can cause a huge explosion. A seemingly trivial incident can be the spark that lights the fuse that will slowly fizz until finally ka-boom! A busy working kitchen is a good example of this type of potentially explosive atmosphere as the recent popularity of reality cookery shows have shown us. A world away from the cosy studio made programmes of Delia and Nigella, shows like Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Masterchef have shown us the intense pressure that exists within the claustrophobic confines of a busy restaurant kitchen.

This is not a modern day phenomenon, however, as back in 1933 George Orwell wrote of his time working as a dishwasher in the kitchen of a French restaurant in his book Down and Out in Paris and London. He records that for the entire lunch service he constantly exchanged coarse insults with the female cook. He considered these insults to be a means of stress release as the pair became amicable and apologetic during meal breaks, only to take up the cudgels again when they went back to work. This is not a recommended method of stress relief.

In the goldfish bowl
This is a favourite media term that is hauled out every time a new manager for the England football team is appointed. Being in the goldfish bowl increases stress levels as every move you make is observed and scrutinised, and there is nowhere to hide. This creates increased pressure to get it right, and the knowledge that everyone and his wife will hear about it makes it all the worse when it goes wrong.

Journalists like nothing better than to throw the speaker at a press conference off balance by asking awkward questions. It takes a great deal of professionalism not to become flustered under these circumstances, with cameras and microphones tapping at the glass of the bowl and seeking a response from the goldfish. The best way to deal with this type of situation is simply to get used to it and remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes.

Under the microscope
Where life in the goldfish bowl means that everything you do is seen by others, being under the microscope only scrutinises certain areas. This term is sometimes used in reference to incidents where there has been, for example, a failure to heed warning signs, or in cases of alleged malpractice. Nevertheless it can still be a cause of great stress to know that people are sifting through every detail of your work specifically to try and discover if you have been doing your job properly.

A good example of being under the microscope came at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix. Race leader Mark Webber had built up a big enough lead that would allow him to go in for a pit stop and come back out without losing his position. This lead was only 23 seconds, so considerable pressure was put on the mechanics to perform the pit stop smoothly and quickly. With cameras close by beaming the scene live to millions, and a clock timing the event to a hundredth of a second, the whole team were under the microscope for the few seconds it took for the car to be in and back on its way again, four seconds ahead of the second placed car. Small wonder, then, that soon after we saw shots of the pit crew exchanging high fives and hugs - the relief must have been incredible.

All of this demonstrates that stressful environments are prevalent in all walks of life. How we deal with stress depends on many factors, such as the mental state of the individual and the particular environment that is causing the stress. If a Big Brother contestant didn't let off steam in the diary room then they would simply become even more stressed, and if an under-pressure England manager ditched his professionalism and opted instead to field a press conference question with Orwell's obscenities, the media would have a field day but he would be out of a job. So if you feel stressed at work, the important thing to remember is that you are not alone and speaking to someone is always a good first step.