Psychosocial health is the physical, mental and social state of a person.
Workers exposed to adverse workplace culture are at greater risk of developing a psychological injury caused by mental
stress.
Any workplace hazard that creates a risk of harm to a worker’s psychological (mental) health are known as psychosocial hazards. These hazards can cause both psychological and physical harm.
Psychosocial hazards can come from the following:
Increase in psychosocial related work injuries
Recent research (as of 2019) shows psychosocial injuries in workplaces across Australia has increased and is likely to increase further because of the pandemic.
In recent years mental stress claims have been significantly rising and continue to rise. While mental stress claims only make up a small proportion of the overall workers’ compensation claims, the associated time lost and costs are significantly higher compared to those overall compensation
claims.
The frequency rates of workers’ compensation claims for harassment and / or bullying and exposure to workplace
or occupational violence made by female employees is twice the rates of these claims made by males.
Occupations with a higher risk of exposure to work-related harassment and /or workplace bullying include:
Industry groups with the highest frequency rates of work-related harassment and/or bullying include:
Take these steps in your workplace to address this critical WHS issue:
Psychosocial hazards in workplaces are real and growing every day.
HSRs need to apply all the same principles to this critical WHS issue and get it under
control.
As with any other workplace hazard, a life could be lost.