Dr Ross Andrews from Regional Occupational Medicine said stress was becoming one of the more common workplace complaints as industries were learning to better manage high-risk manual-handling tasks.

“Work-related stress is common in industries such as the public service where there’s a very strong regimented hierarchy and management, and where people have issues with people,” he said.

“It is generally longer term and almost always requires time away from the office.”

Dr Andrews’ claims have been supported by Public Service Association of NSW south west regional organiser Michelle Mackintosh.

“Workload is an issue and also bullying and harassment which goes both ways between colleagues and from management,” she said.

“All departments are under pressure trying to meet criteria handed down by the government and people tend to take that out on each other.”

Reports of increased work-related stress follow new figures showing $60 million was paid in compensation in Albury-Wodonga in five years.

The figures were released as part of campaigns to improve workplace safety by WorkCover NSW and WorkSafe Victoria earlier this month.

Dr Andrews said many of the workplace accidents and injuries that he responds to could be prevented with simple measures such as a pre-employment medical.

“Maybe if a company had done a pre-employment medical, then they might have realised that that person shouldn’t have been in that job anyway,” he said.