Today (Friday 28 April) is World Day for Safety and Health at Work as well as Workers’ Memorial Day.
These days serve as a powerful reminder for us to reflect on how our actions can effectively prevent work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses.
It is concerning that psychological injury, including issues such as bullying, harassment, workloads, and poor change management, continues to be the number one reason for calls to our Member Rights Centre regarding workplace health and safety (WHS).
In June 2022, Safe Work Australia took a step towards addressing this issue by updating its WHS regulations to include specific measures to manage psychological risks in the workplace.
Psychosocial hazards can arise from various aspects of a job, including its demands, flexibility, autonomy, interactions, and physical environment.
In order to foster a safe and inclusive work environment that encourages open dialogue, organisations must actively promote inclusion and offer positive role models.
This is why the FSU is committed to advocating for workplaces that prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of their employees, and we will continue to raise awareness and push for positive changes in WHS regulations to address psychological injury effectively.
If you need support or assistance, contact the FSU Member Rights Centre on 1300 366 378.