Tag: Safety Culture

Why a National Approach is Essential

Psychosocial hazards are now recognised in every Australian jurisdiction under WHS laws, with specific Codes of Practice and regulator guidance in place. While terminology and commencement dates vary between states and territories, the core duties are consistent:

• Identify psychosocial hazards
• Assess the associated risks
• Implement effective control measures
• Review and maintain those controls

A national strategy ensures multi-site organisations apply consistent processes, meet local legal requirements, and maintain a unified safety culture across all operations.

Key Principles for a National Strategy

Embed Psychosocial Risk into Existing WHS Systems

• Integrate mental health hazard identification into current safety inspections, risk registers, and incident investigations.
• Use a unified template for psychosocial risk assessments, adaptable to local needs.

Apply the Hierarchy of Controls

• Prioritise eliminating hazards (e.g., redesigning work to avoid excessive demands).
• Follow with substitution, engineering, administrative controls, and training — noting PPE is rarely applicable for psychosocial risks.

Use Evidence-Based Frameworks

• Align controls with regulator-endorsed guidance (e.g., Safe Work Australia and state-specific Codes of Practice).
• Incorporate recognised models to design safer work.

Build a Reporting and Feedback Culture

• Provide confidential, accessible channels for workers to raise concerns.
• Ensure managers are trained to recognise and respond to psychosocial hazards sensitively and constructively.

Monitor, Review, and Improve

• Collect data from hazard reports, surveys, exit interviews, and absenteeism trends.
• Review controls at scheduled intervals and after any incident or organisational change.

How SHERM Supports a National Rollout

• Centralised Risk Management: One platform to log, assess, and control psychosocial hazards across all sites.
• Custom Templates: Risk assessment forms mapped to each state’s Code of Practice while maintaining a consistent company-wide standard.
• Training and Compliance Tracking: Automated reminders for mandatory psychosocial hazard awareness training.
• Incident and Concern Reporting: Mobile and web-based reporting for early intervention.
• Audit-Ready Evidence: Comprehensive records to satisfy any regulator, in any jurisdiction.

The Payoff

A coordinated national strategy not only ensures compliance in every state and territory, but also:

• Reduces incidents linked to mental health harm
• Improves employee engagement and retention
• Strengthens organisational reputation as a mentally safe workplace

National Psychosocial Risk Control Strategy

A consistent approach to meeting mental health duties across Australia

National Compliance Snapshot

Jurisdiction	Primary Legislation	Key Psychosocial Duty	Current Code of Practice/Guidance	Commencement
QLD	Work Health and Safety Act 2011	Identify, assess, control, and review psychosocial hazards	Managing the Risk of Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice 2022	1 Apr 2023
NSW	Work Health and Safety Act 2011	Manage psychosocial risks as WHS hazards	Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (2021)	1 Oct 2022
VIC	Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004	Identify, assess and control psychosocial hazards (Regulation 2022)	OHS Amendment (Psychological Health) Regulations	1 Sep 2022
WA	Work Health and Safety Act 2020	Same duty of care for psychological and physical safety	Code of Practice: Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace (2022)	24 Dec 2022
SA	Work Health and Safety Act 2012	Manage psychosocial hazards under general duty	Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (SA adopted)	1 Jul 2023
TAS	Work Health and Safety Act 2012	Treat psychosocial hazards like other WHS risks	Guidance: Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace	Ongoing
NT	Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011	Eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks so far as reasonably practicable	Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work	Ongoing
ACT	Work Health and Safety Act 2011	Identify and control psychosocial hazards	Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work	Ongoing

National Control Strategies

Core Risk Control Principles (Applies in All States/Territories)

• Eliminate hazards where possible (e.g., redesign roles to avoid excessive demands).
• Engineering controls (e.g., improved rostering systems to manage workloads).
• Administrative controls (e.g., clear policies, fair change management processes).
• Training and support (e.g., leadership training in psychological safety, staff awareness sessions).
• Ongoing monitoring (e.g., regular staff surveys, review of absenteeism and turnover data).

Example Risk Controls

• Workload Management → Monitor workloads, redistribute tasks, and avoid prolonged excessive demands.
• Clear Role Expectations → Maintain up-to-date job descriptions and ensure they are discussed during performance reviews.
• Bullying and Harassment Prevention → Implement zero-tolerance policies and accessible reporting procedures.
• Remote or Isolated Work Safety → Provide regular contact, mental health resources, and technological support.
• Critical Incident Support → Offer employee assistance programs and structured post-incident debriefs.

National Implementation Tips

1. Integrate into Existing WHS Systems — Build psychosocial hazard checks into current risk registers, inspections, and incident investigations.
2. Use a Standardised Risk Assessment Template — Keep the same core format nationally, adjusting for state-specific guidance.
3. Train Managers and Workers — Ensure leaders can recognise and respond appropriately to psychosocial hazards.
4. Maintain an Evidence Trail — Record hazard identification, risk assessments, control measures, and review dates for audit readiness.
5. Review Controls Regularly — Especially after incidents, organisational change, or workforce feedback.

With SHERM, your organisation can meet psychosocial hazard duties in every Australian jurisdiction — with one, consistent, audit-ready system.

Get in touch today and discover more.