Psychosocial Risks in the spotlight

A new era of workplace safety is upon us. The 2024-26 Psychological Health and Safety Strategy from Worksafe NSW is here, and it’s a game-changer. This strategy focuses on psychosocial hazards and takes a proactive approach to mental health in the workplace.

More Inspections Get ready for more visits from SafeWork NSW inspectors. There will be a 25% increase in inspections, but don’t worry - it’s all part of the plan to ensure that we’re all doing our part to keep our workplaces safe and healthy.

Prevention is Better than Cure The new strategy is all about prevention. It’s about managing the risks in our workplaces, not just identifying new ones as they emerge. It’s about being proactive, not reactive.

Regulation and Compliance SafeWork isn’t messing around. They’re ready to issue improvement notices, prohibition notices, or formal regulator warnings. Prosecution could also be on the cards for those who repeatedly fail to comply or seriously breach WHS laws.

The strategy identifies common work-related psychosocial hazards that we all need to be aware of. These include role overload, exposure to traumatic events, bullying, sexual harassment, lack of role clarity, and hazardous physical working environments.

The Cost of Unsafe Workplaces Did you know that psychologically unsafe workplaces cost NSW an estimated $2.8 billion annually? That staggering figure includes workers’ compensation claims, absenteeism, and presenteeism.

Risk-Based Approach The strategy encourages us to use a risk-based approach to design work. This involves identifying potential risks, consulting with workers, implementing control measures, monitoring worker safety, and regularly reviewing work design.

Psychosocial WHS Checks As part of the new strategy, SafeWork inspectors will complete “psychosocial WHS checks” when visiting businesses or government agencies.

This new strategy is a comprehensive approach to improving psychological health and safety in the workplace. Anzen is ready to help you and your business navigate these new changes.