Regulations are in place for the mining sector and general industries for managing the risks of psychosocial hazards. This means that persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), including mine operators, have a clear responsibility to eliminate or reduce the risk of harm associated with psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Managing psychosocial hazards is as important as managing physical safety as these can be just as damaging to health. Businesses or undertakings operating in line with wider community expectations will help raise the profile for promoting and sustaining healthy and safe workplaces.
Psychosocial hazards and managing risk
Psychosocial hazards and risk come from a combination of related factors, which include aspects of work and work situations that may cause psychological harm, whether or not they also cause physical harm.
Workers may be exposed to more than one type of psychosocial hazard or risk factor at any one time. In assessing risk, it is important to know about the work people do. PCBUs need to consider:
- how work is designed or managed (e.g. tasks, supervision and training)
- the work environment (i.e. where work is done) and plant at the workplace (e.g. machinery and structures)
- workplace interactions and behaviours.
When managing risk, it is necessary to consider the duration, frequency and severity of exposure to the combination and interaction of psychosocial hazards as well as the possible consequences of exposure and likelihood of harm. Workplace accommodation must also be included when managing the risk of hazards.
The primary duty of care, regulated by the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, also requires a PCBU to reduce risks from psychosocial hazards so far as is reasonably practicable. The codes of practice on these issues are applicable to all workplaces that are within the jurisdiction of this Act.
Where do I find more information?
Psychosocial risks are covered in Division 11, rr. 55A–55D, of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022. Depending upon the industry, there is specific criteria for reporting workplace psychosocial incidents to WorkSafe.
- Psychosocial hazards in the workplace: Code of practice
- Workplace behaviour: Code of practice
- Violence and aggression at work: Code of practice
- Mentally healthy workplaces for fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the resources and construction sectors: Code of practice
