With the new Psychological Health Regulations in place, it's a great time to check your business practices to ensure your workplace is safe for the year ahead. WorkSafe has many resources to assist employers in ensuring the psychological safety of their employees. These employer guides are also helpful for HSRs to understand the hazards and their employer’s duties and obligations in eliminating or managing those hazards.
Aggression or violence is one of the fifteen forms of psychosocial hazard identified by WorkSafe Victoria. The phrase ‘aggression and violence’ in a workplace context refers incidents in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work. Most of us understand that extreme acts of violence are unacceptable. But not everyone realises there is a scale of aggression and violence. Exposure to aggression or violence repetitively can have a cumulative and significant ongoing effect on wellbeing of your employees.
The new WorkSafe employer guide on work-related aggression or violence shows how to identify, manage and respond to such risks in the workplace.
Noting that the lists is not exhaustive, WorkSafe has also prepared information and guidance for employers on fourteen other psychosocial hazards:
- Gendered violence
- High and low job demands
- Low recognition and rewards
- Low role clarity
- Low job control
- Poor environmental conditions
- Poor organisational change management
- Poor organisational justice
- Poor support
- Poor workplace relationships
- Remote or isolated work
- Sexual harassment
- Workplace bullying
- Work -related fatigue
For more information about all types of psychosocial hazards WorkSafe provides information and guidance, including:
- Psychosocial hazard fact sheets
- Psychosocial hazard identification tool
- Psychosocial risk assessment tools
- Common Psychosocial hazards poster
You can subscribe to the WorkSafe Psychological health updates to receive updates and resources about psychological health and safety at work.
Read more: What are Psychosocial Hazards? - OHS Reps