Psychosocial Risk Management

Workplace safety is incomplete without addressing both physical and psychosocial risks. Drawing on extensive experience as a former WorkSafe Psychosocial Inspector—managing over 120 psychosocial health and safety concerns, conducting 200+ inspections, and issuing multiple improvement notices—our systems-thinking approach bridges the gap between these two critical areas.

Rather than focusing on changing individuals, we help employers transform systems of work, addressing high job demands, insufficient support, and workplace conflict. By leveraging insights from risks already managed, we enable businesses to prevent similar challenges, ensuring compliance, fostering well-being, and building safer, more resilient workplaces.

Industry Specific Support

Shipping & Maritime

Education

Manufacturing

Retail

Healthcare & Residential Aged Care

Logistics & Warehousing

  • Bullying, harassment, discrimination, or unresolved interpersonal conflic

    Bullying:

    Workplace bullying is repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed at an employee or group of employees that creates a risk to health and safety.

    Work-related sexual harassment can happen at work, work-related events, or between people sharing the same workplace.

    A range of sources can expose employees to work-related sexual harassment including co-workers, clients, customers, patients, people in custody and members of the public.  

    Sexual Harassment:

    Work related sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, in a workplace or in the course of employment, to a person, which creates a risk to their health or safety.

    Work-related sexual harassment can happen at work, work-related events, or between people sharing the same workplace.

    Occupational Violence & Aggression (OVA) / Work Related Violence & Aggression (WRV):

    Work related violence is any incident in which a person is abused, threatened, or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.

    A range of sources can expose employees to work-related violence including co-workers, clients, customers, patients, people in custody and members of the public

  • Exposure to workplace violence, abuse, or other traumatic incidents.

  • Minimal control over work tasks, methods, or timing.

  • Sustained high workload or monotonous, low-effort tasks.

  • Lack of emotional or practical support from supervisors or colleagues.

  • Insufficient planning or communication during workplace changes.

Psychosocial Risks

  • Unfair decision-making, biased policies, or inequitable resource allocation.

  • Insufficient feedback, rewards, or opportunities for skill development.

  • Ambiguous roles, conflicting job expectations, or frequent changes to tasks.

  • Exposure to extreme noise, temperature, hazardous substances, or unsafe workspaces.

  • Limited access to resources, support, or communication due to isolated locations.

Services & Solutions

  • Conduct risk assessments using a systems-thinking approach to identify psychosocial hazards and risks, as well as associated controls. This process considers how behavioral and work-related factors interact with each other and with physical OHS risks, ensuring a comprehensive understanding and management of workplace safety.

  • Investigate incidents related to bullying, harassment, or violence, and provide recommendations for prevention.

  • Comprehensive evaluations to identify and mitigate risks of occupational violence and aggression (OVA), particularly from customers. This service includes analyzing workplace layout, visibility, and access control to address contributing factors to aggression. Tailored recommendations focus on improving environmental design, enhancing natural surveillance, and implementing clear signage and secure zones. The aim is to create a safe, respectful, and compliant work environment, particularly in high-risk industries like healthcare, education, retail, and aged care.

  • Assist in creating or updating workplace policies to address bullying, harassment, and discrimination, ensuring compliance.

  • Provide guidance for managing change processes with transparency, communication, and fairness.

  • Training and Awareness Programs
    Provide tailored training for employees and management, focusing on building awareness and skills to address psychosocial risks and their interaction with physical OHS risks. Training programs include:

    • Responding to Inappropriate Workplace Behaviors: Practical guidance on existing systems of work, equipping participants to identify, report, and manage inappropriate behaviors such as bullying, harassment, and aggression.

    • Issue Resolution Processes: Clear and actionable training on workplace issue resolution frameworks, including reporting, investigation, and support mechanisms.

    • Interaction Between Psychosocial and Physical Risks: Education on how psychosocial hazards, such as high job demands or poor workplace relationships, interact with physical risks to create compounded safety challenges.

    • Hazard-Specific Psychosocial Risk Training: Focused sessions addressing risks like occupational violence, work-related stress, or role ambiguity, tailored to organizational and industry-specific needs.

    These programs are designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to foster a safer, more resilient, and compliant workplace while addressing both systemic and behavioral factors.

  • Provide expert advice to ensure compliance with psychosocial safety regulations and support during audits or regulatory inspections.

  • Digital tools, automation, and advanced systems for risk management and compliance.