Introduction The testing of stressors and the impact of stress on health and work ability of electricians working in workplaces with a special health risk is very important.

OBJECTIVE is to examine the impact of occupational stress on the ability of electricians to work.

METHODS The research was designed as a cross sectional study and covered 108 respondents, classified into two groups: electricians (52) and control group (56) made up of administrative workers. The survey included the following: Questionnaire on basic sociodemographic indicators of respondents, IRS Questionnaire, Work Ability Index (WAI) Questionnaire, General Health Questionnsire (GHQ), Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and Occupational Stress Assessment Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed with SPSS.

RESULTS The frequency of different categories of WAI score is uniform between the tested groups (p = 0.155). Work ability is poor in 11.5%, moderate in 25%, good in 26.90% and excellent in 36.5% of electricians. The frequency of different categories of WAI score is aligned between the tested groups (p = 0.155). By analyzing all components of IRS score, it was found that there is a statistically significant difference in the components between the electricians and the  control group: requirements (p <0.001) and work role (p <0.001); GHQ is higher in electricians, but no statistically significant difference was found (p = 0.082); CBI is statistically significantly higher in electricians (p <0.001) and WAI score is statistically significantly higher in electricians (p = 0.039). In the overall population, the 10 strongest stressors were ranked and statistically significant difference in all stressors (p <0.001) between the electrician and the control group was shown. The values of the stressors are equal in relation to WAI score categories. In the electricians, the strongest stressors are: night work (4.60), hazards (4.58), shift work (4.54), working overtime (4.46), time limit for individual tasks (4.44), fear of injuries (4.42), pressure of time limits for execution of tasks (4.23), work overload (4.22), inadequate work space (4.18) and daily unforeseen situations (4.10). Average value of all stressors among electricians is 2.87 ± 1.10 (Min 1.10, Max 4.60). In the tested population, 14 different stressors have higher values than the average value of all stressors. In the control group, the average value of all stressors is 1.84 ± 0.33 (Min. 1.17, Max 2.69). Correlation analysis has shown that there is a correlation of age with shift work (r = 0.130, p = 0.013) and working overtime (r = -0.220, p <0.001). URS is statistically significantly related to the time limit for individual tasks (r = 0.149, p = 0.005) and pressure of time limits for execution of tasks (r = 0.125, p = 0.017). ERS is statistically significantly related to night work (r = 0.169, p = 0.001), shift work (r = 0.160, p = 0.002), time limit for execution of tasks (r = 0.203, p <0.001) pressure of time limits for execution of tasks (r = 0.194, p <0.001), work overload (r = 0.128, p = 0.017) and inadequate work space (r = 0.122, p = 0.022). The subjective assessment of work ability in relation to physical (p = 0.010) and psychological requirements (p <0.001) is statistically significantly lower in electricians compared to control group. DISCUSSION By analyzing all components of IRS score, it is found that there is a statistically significant difference between the electricians and the control group in the requirements and the working role components. In the overall population, the top 10 stressors were ranked and it was shown that there was a statistically significant difference in all stressors between the electricians and the control group. The average value of all stressors in the electricians is high and a large number (14) of different stressors have higher values than the average value of all the stressors. The subjective assessment of work ability in relation to physical and mental requirements is statistically significantly worse in electricians than in control group. More than half of electricians went on sick leave (mostly short leaves) during the previous year.

CONCLUSION Occupational stress significantly affects work ability of electricians. Values of WAI score are statistically significantly higher in electricians, and values of stressors are equal in relation to WAI score categories. Correlation analysis has shown there is a correlation between age, URS and ERS with individual stressors.