Safe Work Month 2023: Week 2 - Psychosocial Hazards

Welcome to week two of Safe Work Month 2023!

Psychosocial hazards

This week we are focusing on psychosocial hazards, and how they can be managed, no matter the size or type of business.

There are 12 identified common psychosocial hazards recognised in the ACT, including the following:

• fatigue
• low role clarity
• role overload, and
• isolated and remote work.

We have developed lots of different resources on psychosocial hazards that are available on our website to help our community make sure their workplaces are safe and healthy, including:

• the Strategy for Managing Work-Related Psychosocial Hazards 2021-23
• our exposure to common psychosocial hazards poster which provides information of the lifecycle of psychosocial hazards
• our Sounds like psychosocial posters highlight what to listen out for in the workplace to identify these types of hazards, and
• the 4 steps to risk management poster outlines the risk management approach for any type of hazard, including psychosocial.

Safety Session 

Please join us at our next Safety Session on Wednesday 11 October. 

These are a great opportunity to have a chat with the friendly WorkSafe Inspectors and get answers to any work health and safety questions you have.

Please come along, grab a poster and hear how to keep your workplace healthy and safe!

When: Wednesday 11 October 2023

Time: 10:30am – 2:00pm

Where: City Walk, Canberra City (just look for our big white gazebo!)

Recap from Week 1

In case you missed what we did in Week 1, don’t worry! We have a recap of resources and information below.

Week 1 was dedicated to our vulnerable workers. We:

• issued a Safety Alert on workers’ compensation policies
• hosted our first safety session of the month at the Gungahlin Market Town Centre. Minister Mick Gentleman attended with WorkSafe ACT’s Work, Health and Safety Commissioner, Jacqueline Agius and we engaged with so many members of our amazing Canberra community!
• released translated guidance notes in Simplified Chinese, Nepali, Vietnamese and Punjabi. You can find the new translated guidance notes at Safe Work Method Statements - WorkSafe ACT and Work health and safety management plans - WorkSafe ACT.
• published a Workers' Compensation FAQs document, which will also be translated in early 2024.

How you can get involved this Safe Work Month

We’re asking businesses, employers, workers and the ACT community to join us in celebrating Safe Work Month and commit to building safe and healthy practices for all workers, all workplaces.

There are lots of ways you can get involved, including:

• promote the month in your workplace
• download and use our campaign kit resources
• grab a cuppa and hold a SafeTea Chat
• join us at our Safety Sessions

Head to Safe Work Month and check out our Digital Campaign Kit now to get involved!