Queensland business, including labour hire business, have a responsibility to create workplaces that are physically and psychologically safe. Psychosocial hazards can arise from:
how work is designed or managed
the work environment
equipment used
workplace interactions and behaviours.
These hazards can cause psychological, and sometimes, physical harm.
Psychosocial hazards and their effects aren’t always obvious. Some psychosocial hazards can build up over time and can significantly affect psychological health, even when workers experience them at low levels. Other psychological hazard, like a single stressful event, may cause immediate harm. In many cases, multiple psychosocial hazards can interact and increase the overall risk of harm.
The Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022 (the Code) provides practical guidance on preventing psychosocial hazards and physical harm in the workplace. The Code provides information on how businesses can control or manage psychosocial hazards and risks and can be used to support businesses to decide what’s reasonably practicable to reduce those risks.
