New Code to address workplace risks to mental health

Human Resources: Preventing psychological harm is an essential part of creating a healthy and safe workplace.

Under existing WHS laws, PCBUs (person conducting a business or undertaking) have a primary duty of care to ensure the health and safety of workers and others, which includes both physical and psychological health. The duty to manage psychosocial hazards* at work is therefore not a new one. However, the Boland Review identified that many organisations were concerned due to the lack of Codes and/or regulations in relation to psychosocial hazards and how to control these risks.

Developed by Safe Work Australia, the new Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work explains the laws and how to comply with them, including practical steps to manage workplace risks to psychological health.  

Safe Work Australia CEO, Michelle Baxter, said “Under work health and safety laws, PCBUs have a positive duty to do everything they reasonably can to prevent exposure to psychosocial hazards and risks.

“Psychosocial hazards are anything at work that may cause psychological harm. They can come from the way work is designed and managed, the working environment, or behaviours including bullying, harassment, discrimination, aggression and violence.”

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Ms Baxter said work-related psychological injuries and illness have a significant negative impact on workers, their families and business. 

“On average, work-related psychological injuries have longer recovery times, higher costs, and require more time away from work when compared with physical injuries.

“Workers’ compensation claims for psychological injury and illness have increased and impose high costs to employers through time off and workers’ compensation costs.

“Managing psychosocial risks protects workers, decreases staff turnover and absenteeism, and may improve broader organisational performance and productivity.”

Given the requirements set out in the Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work, and that the Code can be referred to in proceedings as a standard, PCBUs should ensure they record their risk management process regarding their ongoing assessment, management and review of psychosocial hazards and the outcomes. This should include records of consultations with workers.

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*Psychosocial hazards are hazards that may cause psychological and physical harm and arise from or relate to, the design or management of work, the working environment, plant at a workplace or workplace interactions or behaviours. This covers a broad field and includes hazards such as:

• job demands;
• low job control;
• poor support;
• lack of role clarity;
• poor organisational change management;
• inadequate reward and recognition;
• poor organisational justice, being inconsistent, unfair, discriminatory or inequitable management of decisions and applications of policies, including poor procedural 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 or interactions.