Workplaces now have another tool to help them manage psychosocial risks at work with the release of a new infographic from SafeWork Australia.
Unveiling its What psychosocial hazards sound like infographic, SafeWork said the infographic prompted workplace leaders to think about how their workers might describe psychosocial hazards.
“The first step in the risk management process is to identify the psychosocial hazards,” SafeWork Australia said.
“Your workers may talk about their exposure to psychosocial hazards in different ways,” it said.
“For example, they may say they feel stressed, burnt out or emotionally exhausted from their workload.”
To manage psychosocial risks, Safe Work said organisations should apply the four-step risk management process.
It said this involved identifying hazards, assessing the associated risks, implementing control measures to eliminate or minimise risks, and regularly reviewing control measures to ensure they remained effective.
“Managing psychosocial risks at work is just as important as managing physical risks,” the Agency said.
“Our infographic Managing psychosocial risks at work has information about psychosocial hazards and applying the four-step risk management process,” it said.
“Every step of the risk management process must be supported by consultation with workers and their representatives.”
The Agency said good consultation with workers could help managers identify and control risks, and lead to better outcomes.
SafeWork’s one-page What psychosocial hazards sound like infographic can be accessed at this PS News link and its two-page Managing psychosocial risks at work at this link.
