Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION, do any of the following mean something to you?

• Job demands

• Low job control

• Poor support

• Lack of role clarity

• Poor organisational change management

• Inadequate reward and recognition

• Poor organisational justice

• Traumatic events or material

• Remove or isolated work

• Poor physical environment

• Violence and aggression

• Bullying and harassment

• Conflict or poor workplace relationships and interactions

These are some of the most common psychosocial hazards in a workplace, which could cause psychological harm (e.g., harm to someone’s mental health).

Sound familiar?

In my tenure as a Police Officer, I witnessed many colleagues battle with psychosocial hazards and vicariously through them, it affected me.

With the continuously rising attrition rate, it is proof that people are walking away from the job to work a less taxing job. Whether this means mentally taxing or physically taxing. Earlier this year, WAPU estimated a record number of sworn officers resigned and retired from WA Police Force in 2022-23.

421 police officers resigned from the WA Police Force in 2022-23. A further 136 officers either retired or medically retired during that period. These are record numbers and are the worst attrition rates since 1969-70.

A survey conducted by WAPU outlined that “dissatisfaction with WA Police Force management and culture” was clearly the primary reason for respondents resigning with more than 83 per cent selecting it.

There is no room for psychosocial hazards in a modern workplace, the Work Health and Safety Act was overhauled in 2020 and now places the onus on the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)

Commissioner to eliminate all psychosocial risks, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise them so far as is reasonably practicable.

With the help and support of our members, I will continue to address issues within management, environment, and workplace.

It is inevitable to suffer from stress in the span of our lifetime, however, there are ways to manage it, and there is no place for additional, unnecessary stresses that stem from psychosocial hazards, the job is tough enough.

Be kind to yourself and your colleagues and report unsafe behaviour.