New regulations to prevent workplace psychological hazards and injuries better are to be introduced to strengthen workers’ rights to a safe place of employment.
Minister for Workplace Safety, Ingrid Stitt said the priority reforms would strengthen the occupational health and safety framework by providing clearer guidance to employers on their obligations to protect workers from mental injury.
“The changes will put psychological hazards on the same footing as physical ones – recognising that they can be just as harmful to workers’ safety and wellbeing,” Ms Stitt said.
“WorkCover mental injury claims have grown significantly in recent years and are expected to account for a third of all workers’ compensation claims by 2030,” she said.
Ms Stitt said the regulations followed several recent reviews which recommended strengthening workplace health and safety laws to address workplace psychological health, including Safe Work Australia’s 2019 Review of Model WHS Laws and the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Respect@Work report, released in March.
The Minister said the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System’s final report also highlighted the need to improve education and awareness around psychological health to build safe and healthy workplaces and prevent mental injury.
She said consultation would be conducted with industry, community and workers on the development of the new regulations and the State would engage with employers ahead of commencement to ensure they understood their obligations.
