New psychosocial hazards regulation and code of practice

There has always been a requirement in our work health and safety laws to manage hazards in the workplace.

Now the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022 clarify and reinforce these existing duties by clearly outlining the legal requirements for workplaces to prevent and manage psychosocial hazards. And there is a new code of practice, Managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace, to help workplaces comply with the Regulations.

What are psychosocial hazards?

Psychosocial hazards include workplace bullying, traumatic events, occupational violence and aggression, excessive workloads and micromanagement.

What’s the cost to your business?

On average, work-related mental health injuries — including those caused by psychosocial hazards — have longer recovery times, higher costs, and require more time away from work than any other injury.

They cause disruptions because of staff turnover, absenteeism, and fractured workplace relations between workers, poor staff morale, and even bad business reputations.

These things are not good for your business — and important reasons for you to prevent psychosocial hazards from occurring in your workplace.

What’s the human cost?

Someone who directly experiences burnout or micromanagement, or who witnesses workplace bullying or violence, might become anxious, depressed, withdrawn, and fearful, develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or have an increased risk of suicide.

They might not be able to sleep, they may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope, or they might develop headaches, muscle tension, and digestive problems.

How you can manage the risks of psychosocial hazards

Select the buttons below for practical information and resources to make your workplace safer and to comply with the new regulations.