starter kit: managing psychosocial hazards

Ever been told psychosocial hazards can't be grasped? Not true!

I was recently invited by union officials to share resources about managing psychosocial hazards at work. I was keen to see if there was much more new stuff out there since I finished post-grad study last year. It's been such nerdy fun to pull this together! I've kept the list short, and presented my selections from to quick & simple to longer in-depth thinking. I'd love to know what you found most useful, and what you'd like to know more about. Go well,

Tjarda at worksense H&S training

Resources

1. A visual example of a hierarchy of controls for psychosocial risk. I love a good diagram. Always start with higher level controls, and only move down if you have to. Too many interventions for psychosocial risk jump to the "change the worker" part. Resilience training, anti-bullying seminars, personal efficiency training, fitness challenges and individualised health conversations. (Hint: they're not all useful for all people). Psychosocial risk management shouldn't begin (or end!) at the tip of this inverted iceberg.
   

2. A short video (4:33) from WorkSafe Queensland. It's got more great diagrams, and nicely includes reference to (Australian) legislation. Have you ever heard anyone sound this happy talking about workplace psychosocial hazards?
   

3. The SafeWork Australia Model Code of Practice for managing psychosocial hazards at work.

   This is my current fave resource. Why? Because it slots in well with NZ/AS ISO 45003:2021 (click here for a close-match free online-only version) and places everything in the context of the (model) Australian HSWA which is similar to our legislation (cos we kinda copied it). Until we build our own Code of Practice, we should use the Aussie one as a guide.
   

4. A longer video presentation from WorkSafe on mentally healthy work. When you click on the video link, it'll start partway through Dr John Fitzgerald's presentation to the HASANZ Mentally Healthy Roadshow (2021). His presentation runs for about 15 minutes more. If you've got time, you can watch the whole thing. Here's a good written piece with more of John's thoughts.

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Want more?

• Check out this gentle written piece from Umbrella Wellbeing and a description of Better Work By Design (BWBD) from Leading Safety. Both will help you move people beyond the basics. Remember: good H&S is rarely about changing individuals: it's about the big stuff.

• For kiwis seeking international resources, Australian H&S resources (like the fabulous OHSBoK) are often the most helpful. Our NZ Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 was adapted from the Australian 2011 model act.  

• The Aussie legislation was adapted from the 1974 UK Act. For more UK research, check the Health and Safety Executive - maybe take a look at the 2017 WHEC report on work-related stress?)