Psychosocial hazard
A psychosocial hazard is a hazard that may cause psychological or physical harm and arises from how work is designed, organised and managed, or from the social context of work. Examples include high job demands, low job control, poor support, role conflict, exposure to traumatic events, harassment and bullying.
Legal context
Psychosocial hazards are now treated identically to physical hazards under the model WHS Regulations following Safe Work Australia's 2022 amendments. The model Code of Practice "Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work" (2022) lists 14 categories — high and low job demands, low job control, poor support, low role clarity, poor change management, inadequate reward and recognition, poor organisational justice, traumatic events or material, remote or isolated work, poor physical environment, violence and aggression, bullying, harassment including sexual harassment, and conflict or poor workplace relationships. PCBUs must identify these hazards, assess the risk, apply the hierarchy of control, monitor the controls and review them — the same s17–s19 cycle as physical hazards. The 2022 Code aligns with ISO 45003:2021.
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Related terms
ISO 45003
ISO 45003:2021 is the international guidance standard for managing psychosocial risk within an ISO 45001 OHSMS. It is a guideline (not a certifiable standard) and was the first global ISO standard to address psychosocial hazards in occupational safety terms.
Positive duty (sexual harassment)
The "positive duty" is the obligation under s47C of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) for employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sex-based harassment, hostile workplace environments and victimisation. It is proactive — duty-holders must prevent harm, not just respond after it.
EAP
An Employee Assistance Program is a confidential counselling and short-term-support service provided to workers (and often their immediate family) by an external provider. EAP access is the most common mental-health control in Australian workplaces and a near-baseline requirement for psychosocial risk management.
MHFA
A Mental Health First Aider is a trained worker who can recognise mental-health issues in colleagues and connect them to appropriate support. The standard course is Mental Health First Aid Australia's 12-hour Standard MHFA, with certifications valid for 3 years.
Platform pillars
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47 WHS and HSWA terms with legal context, FAQs and regulator references.