In part 1 of this series, we discussed the introduction of psychosocial hazards into the WHS Act 2011, which came into effect on April 1, 2023. The Act was amended to provide further information to organisations on how to identify psychosocial risks associated with psychological injury, and the appropriate control measures to mitigate those risks¹, along with guidelines and frameworks for action. 

A quick recap on what the psychosocial hazards are:

“Psychosocial hazards refer to factors that can influence a worker’s psychological health and safety.^”

They are hazards that:

• arise from or in relation to:
  • the design or management of work
  • the working environment
  • workplace interactions or behaviours; and
• may cause psychological and physical harm.²

Psychosocial hazards relating to work design and demands are some of the most common in the workplace, that can cause stress and psychological harm if not properly managed. To effectively assess the risk that these psychosocial hazards present, it is important to consider the following:

• the duration, frequency and severity of exposure to the psychosocial hazards;
• how the psychosocial hazards may combine or interact; and
• the design, and systems, of work including how work is managed, organized and supported.