VTHC’s new prevention plan for psychosocial hazards is designed to make consultation a non-negotiable and at the heart of every step of the risk management process.
We've also made sure it reflects that WorkSafe Victoria's hazard list isn't the full picture, incorporating risk factors identified in other jurisdictions, because good prevention knows no borders.
A prevention plan is a written record that documents the risk management process and can be used to help control the risk of psychosocial hazards in the workplace. There are four steps: Identify hazards, assess the risks, control the risks, review and revise the controls.
Psychosocial hazards may interact or combine to create new or higher risks. When managing psychosocial risks, employers need to consider all the psychosocial hazards employees might be exposed to.
Each of the four steps require appropriate and thorough consultation, a point that may be missed if your employer only uses the WorkSafe prevention plan template. Under the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004, employers must consult with employees on matters related to health & safety that directly affect, or are likely to affect, them. Employers must do this so far as is reasonably practicable, including when developing prevention plans.
Regular, thorough consultation with the people who perform the work delivers the best results in identifying and controlling risk.
Download the new HSR tool here: Prevention Plan for Psychosocial Hazards - OHS Reps