Managing Psychosocial Risks and Hazards

For years many leaders have understood the need to create a physically safe place to work. However, few leaders understand the positive impacts that reducing psychosocial risks and hazards can have on the wellbeing, productivity and performance of their team. ‍

What is Psychosocial risk and why is managing it important?

The regulation of work health and safety has undergone recent changes, with regulators across Australia pushing to better address psychosocial hazards in the workplace. SafeWork Australia defines psychosocial hazard as “anything that could cause psychological harm (e.g. harm someone’s mental health).

Common psychosocial hazards at work include:

• job demands
• low job control
• poor support
• lack of role clarity
• poor organisational change management
• inadequate reward and recognition
• poor organisational justice
• traumatic events or material
• remote or isolated work
• poor physical environment
• violence and aggression
• bullying
• harassment, including sexual harassment, and
• conflict or poor workplace relationships and interactions

On top of this, worker compensation claims relating to psychological injuries at work are incredibly complex, costly for organisations, and are on the steady rise. That’s why, in 2022, SafeWork Australia developed a Code of Practice for Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work. This code provides practical guidance on how to achieve the standards required under the Work Health and Safety Act.  

Although, States and Territories have different legal requirements, it’s fair to say that all organisations should be promoting the reduction of risks and hazards that may cause harm to their people - physically and psychologically.

One practical way to do this is to equip your managers to understand what psychosocial risks and hazards are, the impacts on their people and organisation and the important part managers play in creating a safe place to work.  

You can reduces risks and hazards in your workplace today by booking Managing Psychosocial Risks and Hazards as a standalone session, or save today by packaging it with our Psychological Safety for Leaders and Leading Mentally Healthy Teams sessions.