On 25 December 2023, new regulations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 will come into effect, providing guidance to workers and employers on how to manage the risk of psychological injuries and illness in the workplace.
According to legislation (Work Health and Safety (Psychosocial Risks) Amendment Regulations 2023) passed earlier this year by the South Australian government, employers will be required to manage and implement control measures that pose a risk to the health or safety of a worker or other person arising from a psychosocial hazard.
The legislation states that a psychosocial hazard arises from the design or management of work or a work environment, interactions or behaviours that may cause psychological harm, irrespective of whether or not it may also cause physical harm.
Businesses should seek to implement control measures that have regard to relevant matters including:
To help businesses prepare and manage strategies to implement such control measures, the South Australian Business Chamber has developed a course for managers and leaders that covers how to:
The next session for the Psychological Safety for Leaders course is on 2 February 2024.
