Safe Work Australia’s National Safe Work Month 2023 kicks off its second week, with the celebration now focused on protecting workers’ mental health.
In a media release, Safe Work highlighted the psychosocial hazards faced by workers that may cause psychological and physical harm.
These hazards include job demands, low job control, poor support, lack of role clarity, poor organisational change management, as well as inadequate reward recognition, among others.
According to Safe Work Australia, psychological hazards may interact or combine to create new, changed, or higher risks, making it important to consider all psychological hazards workers may be exposed to when managing psychosocial risks.
Under WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must address psychological risks to eliminate or minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable.
PCBUs are expected to work together with workers and their health and safety representatives by consulting them throughout the risk management process and ensuring that workers and other persons are not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
For more information about WHS duties, download the model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work.
Safe Work Australia’s National Safe Work Month 2023 celebration focuses on a different health and safety area for each week of October.
Wirth this year’s theme, “For Everyone’s Safety, Work Safely, Safe Work Australia encourages individuals and organisations to prioritise safety in the workplace.
Week 1 focused on working together to manage risks at work. Week 3 will zero in on supporting all workers, while Week 4 will focus on creating a safe and healthy workplace.
