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When assessing workplace risks you’d look for physical hazards right? But it's not only physical elements you should be looking out for.

There has been a rise in the impact of ‘psychosocial hazards’ in workplaces since the pandemic. 'Psychosocial hazards' are anything that could cause psychological harm and risk to your mental health. Yet, experiencing psychosocial hazards over a long duration of time can start affecting your physical health as well.

An independent report in 2018 recommended 34 changes after reviewing the current Australian Work Health and Safety legislation. The report recommended more guidelines to identify and manage psychological risks.

Safework Australia published the Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work in 2022 and amendments to the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 came into force in April 2023. 

These changes:

‘…provide better guidance to workers and employers on how to manage the risk of psychological injuries and illnesses in the workplace.’.

Each State and Territory have their own due diligence to legislate these changes. Many states and territories have already enacted legislation with South Australia being one the last, with regulations expected to come into effect in December 2023.

What are workplace psychosocial hazards?

Psychosocial hazards aren’t always easy to identify. But it's important to consider if your workplace is taking a mental toll on your employees.

Examples of workplace psychosocial hazards are:

• Excessive workloads and job demands

• Violence and aggression

• Low Job control

• Harassment and sexual assault

• Traumatic events

• Remote, isolated or poor work environment

• Inadequate reward and recognition

They may not have a physical effect on you but mentally they’d have a significant impact on your mental health.

Safe Work Australia reports 7,984 Australians are compensated each year for work-related mental health conditions.

Psychological injuries usually have longer recovery times, higher costs and mean more time away from work than physical injuries.

How does it affect Agriculture?

Farmers live and breathe their work. Many don’t get a chance to ‘switch off’ from the stress of the industry.

Don’t worry, these changes don’t add any extra requirements for business owners or team leaders.

Australian workplaces have always had to manage psychosocial hazards. Yet, these regulations will provide clear guidelines on how to reduce or remove psychosocial hazards.

Consider the psychosocial hazards mentioned above. Several of those are relative to farming.

Job demands can increase in peak periods such as harvest. You may have highly repetitive and monotonous work during picking season.

You could have seen a traumatic event like your mate in an accident.

The impacts of hazards like these don’t go away. The stress and anxiety lingers until it takes a mental and then physical toll. This is when accidents around machinery or equipment are more likely to occur.

As a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) you must eliminate or minimise psychosocial hazards in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.

As a Worker you are responsible for your own duty of care and that of others around you.

By introducing new guidelines to identify and control psychosocial hazards, employers will be better equipped to manage them.

How can you prevent psychosocial hazards on farm?

While not all psychosocial hazards can be prevented, they can be controlled.

Key to controlling psychosocial hazards is consultation. Start by communicating with your workers about how they feel on-site. Are the hours too long with too little breaks? Do you have a poor workplace culture? Are they uncertain about their job tasks or expectations? Are workers violent or aggressive to one another?

Assessing the psychosocial hazards currently in your workplace will make it easier to control them.

Here are our top tips for controlling psychosocial hazards:

• Consult with workers on psychosocial hazards

• Have regular breaks with a decent duration

• Ask workers if they’re ok?

• Have clear processes for communicating with remote or isolated workers

• Communicate job expectations and responsibilities

• Prevent worker violence, bullying or behaviours by pulling them up on it

• Develop a regular sleep routine - nothing is worse when you’re experiencing mind fog!

• Create a healthy work-life balance - your personal life needs to be bigger than your work one or it’ll consume you. Take up a hobby or something you enjoy to get your mind off work.

A new policy template ‘Psychosocial Safety Policy’ is now available in your Safe Ag Systems software which may help with managing psychosocial hazards in your business.

Addressing psychosocial hazards is a crucial step in creating a safe work environment. Agriculture can be as mentally taxing as it is physically. We all know that. By creating a safe workplace you not only protect your employees but also contribute to a happier workforce.

Disclaimer: Content on this website may be of relevance to users outside of Australia, but content links and examples are specific to Australia. Please check with your local authority for your country and industry requirements.