People at Work Risk management for work-related psychological injury

Session Overview 1.What is People at Work 2.Why is it important 3.How does it work

What is People at Work?

Context WHS legislation around Australia requires that employers take all reasonable steps to provide working environments that are safe and without risks to health, including psychological health. A structured way to manage these risks is available through People at Work, a research collaboration among The University of Queensland and The Australian National University, with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, WorkSafe Victoria, Safe Work Australia, WorkCover NSW, Comcare, and Beyond Blue (Partner Organisations).

Overview of People at Work Measures how your different workplace characteristics influence worker psychological health and wellbeing. Provides a 5 step process that helps organisations identify and manage workplace risks to the psychological health of their workers. Has been underway since 2007, gathering comparative data for approximately 7000 workers across public and private workplaces, most industries and occupations.

Preventing workplace stressors TERTIARY INTERVENTION -Injury management - Rehabilitation - Return-to-Work - Complaint work SECONDARY INTERVENTION Responding to early indicators of absence, injury and illness PRIMARY WHS INTERVENTION Prevention/Risk Management - Hazard ID - Risk assessment - Implement controls - Review & improve PEOPLE AT WORK

Why is it Important? And what are the benefits?

Why manage risks to psychological health? Apart from legislative requirements, it makes good business sense to manage the risks to psychological health. Work environments that contain these risks can have significant human and financial costs.

Why is People at Work Important? Work-related psychological injury happens often and costs a lot. You have legal (WHS) duties to manage the risk People at Work provides a structured how to, 5 step process for primary prevention The program is supported by WHSQ, WorkSafe Victoria, WorkCover NSW, Comcare, Safe Work Australia and Beyondblue.

What are the Benefits? Participating organisations have access to: –an online risk assessment tool –online support resources Organisations receive: –a tailored organisational report that highlights your specific work-related risks to psychological health of your workforce Allows organisations to: –focus on prevention –develop a risk control plan that targets any specific problems

How does it work?

Work-related Stress Psychological Injury/Illness Poor health behaviours Physical Illness HIGH JOB DEMANDS 1. Demand: role overload, cognitive demand, emotional demand 2. Role conflict and role ambiguity 3. Relationships: group task conflict, group relationship conflict, bullying LOW JOB RESOURCES 4. Control 5. Support: supervisor and co-worker support 6. Change consultation 7. Recognition and reward 8. Procedural justice

5 Steps Involved

How does People at Work work

1.Levels of psychological well-being in your organisation and (up to 10) workgroups 2.The % of workers exposed to psychosocial risk factors (such as high job demands and low job resources) 3.Comparisons of your organisational exposure to psychosocial risk factors with Australian benchmarks 4.The prevalence of bullying in your organisation and (up to 10) workgroups Report Information

Reports - Example

Approximate timeframes

Summary Work-related psychological injury has a high cost for workers and employers People at Work is a valid and reliable risk assessment process for Psychological injury –Substantial free resources are available to support organisations –Engaging in People at Work will assist to meet your WHS duties