Launch of the ACT'S first psychosocial hazards strategy

October marks National Safe Work Month, with WorkSafe ACT launching its inaugural ‘Strategy for Managing Work-related Psychosocial Hazards 2021-23’ yesterday, Wednesday 6 October.

ACT’s Work Health and Safety Commissioner, Jacqueline Agius, opened the virtual event and emphasised the significance of launching this strategy during National Safe Work Month, with a particular emphasis on work-related violence and sexual harassment.

‘The risk of harm from all psychosocial hazards is immense, on average, work-related psychological injuries have longer recovery times, higher costs, and require more time away from work. We aim to protect all workers from these harms, and I am particularly passionate about preventing work related violence and aggression’, the Commissioner said.

The event featured insights into the workings of WorkSafe ACT’s team of specialist psychosocial inspectors, including ‘what to expect when a psychosocial inspector visits’ and the Australian first approach to digitising compliance with managing psychosocial hazards.

Dr Peta Miller, a renowned Australian work health and safety expert and consultant, shared preliminary findings from her project examining what barriers and enablers duty holders experience when trying to effectively manage psychosocial hazards.

WorkSafe ACT’s theme for National Safe Work Month Work Safe, Home Safe, was a collaborative commitment by all WorkSafe ACT staff and captures the changing workscape many Canberrans find themselves in.

‘We are tackling systemic work health and safety issues like bullying, sexual harassment, work-related violence and aggression. It is morally and legally unacceptable for any employer to accept these hazards as “part of the job” or for these hazards to be dismissed as being too hard to manage. This is my stance against sexual harassment and gender-based violence.’

‘This strategy is our commitment to improving the management of psychosocial hazards. We can’t underestimate the importance of healthy and safe workplaces. By requiring the management of psychosocial hazards, we are keeping people in our community safe. That is a key contribution to the ACT'.

Commissioner Agius emphasised the impact of effective management and the results of partnering with the wider ACT community to commit to positive changes.

'Being healthy and safe means being free from physical and psychological harm. No job should be unsafe, and no death or injury is acceptable.' 

‘The health and safety outcomes from effectively managing psychosocial hazards are immeasurable and this Strategy will demonstrate that the Territory is an Australian leader in the prevention and management of psychosocial harm.’

Further information about National Safe Work Month can be found on our Events page.

Media contacts
media@worksafe.act.gov.au

Dawn Nixon 0466285446
Jackii Shepherd 0414 997 976