Week 2 of National Safe Work Month takes a deep dive into understanding psychosocial hazards at work and how to manage the risks.
What are psychosocial hazards?
A psychosocial hazard is anything that could cause psychological harm (e.g. harm to someone's mental health) however they can also cause physical harm. Psychosocial hazards are created by:
- the design or management of work
- a work environment
- plant at the workplace, or
- workplace interactions or behaviours.
The impacts of psychosocial hazards
In total, serious claims for mental health conditions in 2021-22 resulted in 584,029 working weeks of time lost from work.
On average, work-related psychological injuries have longer recovery times, higher costs, and require more time away from work.
This week we will look at:
- identifying psychosocial hazards
- common myths
- controlling the risks and the importance of consultation, and
- managing psychosocial hazards in practice.
Learn more
- model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work
- model Code of Practice: Sexual and gender-based harassment
- the People at Work tool
Week 2 content - Psychosocial hazards
Click the buttons below to explore this week's content
Identifying psychosocial hazards What are psychosocial hazards? Psychosocial risks Myths busted #WorkerWednesday Consultation with workers
This October we will focus on a different health and safety area for each week of National Safe Work Month.
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Week 1 (1-6 October)
WHS fundamentals -
Week 2 (7-13 October)
Psychosocial hazards -
Week 3 (14-20 October)
Risk management fundamentals -
Week 4 (21-31 October)
Musculoskeletal injuries
Week 1 (1-6 October)
Work health and safety fundamentals
This week gets back to basics by unpacking the fundamentals of WHS that everyone should know.
Week 2 (6-13 October)
Psychosocial hazards
Preventing psychological and physical harm at work are equally important. Encompassing World Mental Health Day, this week looks at how to identify and manage psychosocial hazards.
Week 4 (21-31 October)
Musculoskeletal injuries
This week looks at musculoskeletal injuries and how to effectively manage the risk of harm.
Stay updated
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Week 3 (14-20 October)
Risk management fundamentals
Risk management is integral to a safe and healthy workplace. This week learn how to undertake a WHS risk assessment, including how to identify hazards in the workplace.