Managing psychosocial hazards: Control and review

The model work health and safety laws require persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), such as employers, to eliminate or minimise psychosocial hazards so far as is reasonably practicable.

This can be done by following the risk management process:

• Step 1: Identify hazards
• Step 2: Assess the risk (if necessary)
• Step 3: Control the risk
• Step 4: Review control measures.

This topic covers step 3 and 4. Steps 1 and 2 are covered on the previous page.

Step 3: Control psychosocial hazards

Once you know which psychosocial hazards are present and you have assessed the risks they create, you are in a position to control them.

Every workplace is different. The best combination of control measures will be tailored to your organisation’s size, type and work activities to manage risks during both everyday operations and emergencies.

The model work health and safety laws require PCBUs to eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

To determine what is reasonably practicable to manage psychosocial risks:

1. identify as many possible control measures as you can
2. consider which control measures are most effective, and
3. consider which controls are reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

Specific guidance on how to put controls in place may vary across different work health and safety jurisdictions. For further information see the model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work.

Step 4: Review control measures

Once you have implemented control measures, you need to review their effectiveness to make sure they work as planned.

Maintain your control measures

Control measures for psychosocial risks must be maintained to remain effective. This includes ensuring they are still fit for purpose, suitable for the nature and duration of the work, and installed, set up and used correctly.

These actions can help you maintain your control measures:

• Clearly allocate accountabilities – Give managers and supervisors the authority and resources to implement and maintain control measures.
• Maintain plant and equipment – Schedule and perform regular tests and inspections, and repair or replace damaged or worn plant and equipment.
• Keep training and competency up to date – Update skills of existing workers and train new workers.
• Keep hazard information up to date – Check product or process updates from manufacturers and suppliers. Introduce new technologies when they become available if practicable.
• Consult regularly – Check in with your workers.

Review your control measures

You must review your control measures:

• when you identify a new hazard or risk
• if a control measure does not eliminate or minimise the risk so far as is reasonably practicable
• before a change that is likely to create a new or different risk
• when consultation indicates a review is necessary
• if a health and safety representative requests one.

Regularly reviewing your control measures should be part of your ongoing risk management process. Do not wait until something goes wrong.

You must consult your workers and their representatives throughout the risk management cycle, including when you review control measures.

If you find any problems, use steps 1 to 3 to identify, assess and control any hazards and risks.

This summary was adapted from content created by Safe Work Australia with permission.