Psychosocial safety: the employer’s obligations

Have you identified psychosocial hazards in your workplace?

What counts as a psychosocial hazard in a workplace depends on the work, the team, the conditions, and the structures around the role. The model code identifies 14 categories, but they manifest differently in every setting.

Have you assessed the level of risk from each hazard?

Risk assessment under WHS depends on the hazard, the likelihood of harm, the severity of harm, and the controls already in place. Each combination is assessed in its own context.

Are controls in place and proportionate to the risk?

What proportionate controls look like depends on the hazard, the workforce, and the practicability of elimination versus mitigation. The hierarchy of control applies the same way for psychosocial as for physical hazards.

Are workers being consulted on the hazards and controls?

What consultation looks like depends on the workforce, the existing channels, and the change being considered. WHS consultation has specific procedural expectations distinct from general workplace engagement.

Are incidents and near-misses being recorded and reviewed?

Which incidents and near-misses need to be recorded, and how, depends on the type of hazard, the severity, and any reporting obligations to the regulator. Patterns matter as much as individual events.