Psychosocial risk assessment
Safetysure provides psychosocial risk assessments for a range of clients to identify and map psychosocial hazards in their organisations.
We have developed our own tools and methodologies to assist our clients in rapidly assessing and mapping risks and furthermore developing appropriate strategies to manage psychosocial risk in the workplace. Recent regulatory changes have revealed organisations must assess and manage psychosocial hazards to employees.
A psychosocial hazard is anything that could cause psychological harm (e.g. harm someone’s mental health). Safework Australia defines common psychosocial hazards at work to include:
- job demands
- low job control
- poor support
- lack of role clarity
- poor organisational change management
- inadequate reward and recognition
- poor organisational justice
- traumatic events or material
- remote or isolated work
- poor physical environment
- violence and aggression
- bullying
- harassment, including sexual harassment, and
- conflict or poor workplace relationships and interactions
How psychosocial hazards can cause harm to employees
Psychosocial hazards can create stress. This can cause psychological or physical harm. Stress itself is not an injury. But if workers are stressed often, over a long time, or the level of stress is high, it can cause harm.
Psychological harm may include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders,
Physical harm may include musculoskeletal injuries, chronic disease or fatigue-related injuries.
Psychosocial hazards may interact and combine
Psychosocial hazards may interact or combine to create new, changed or higher risks. It is important to consider all the psychosocial hazards workers may be exposed to when managing psychosocial risks.
Some hazards may not create psychosocial risks independently but may do so if combined with other hazards. For example, when workloads are high, the risk may increase if workers cannot take breaks or there is no one around to help. Some hazards may only create risks on their own when severe.
What’s involved in a psychosocial risk assessment?
Our consultants help organisations to complete psychosocial risk assessment through a range of tools including:
- online psychosocial risk surveys
- job interviews
- review of job descriptions
- conducting scenario analysis
- occupational specific risk profiling
Want to know more about psychosocial risk assessments and how Safetysure can help?
Call us on 1300 087 888 or drop us a line at admin@safetysure.com.au and a consultant will contact you.