Psychological health and safety for workers

Working in a healthy and safe workplace

Psychological health and safety is just as important as physical health and safety in the workplace.

Workers should know and understand their workplace health and safety responsibilities — and those of others.

Legally it’s the employer’s responsibility to address risks of psychological injury and promote a psychologically healthy work environment, but everyone plays a role. Employees are responsible for understanding what psychological hazards are in your workplace and using control measures to prevent them.

A psychosocial hazard is anything that:

1. Arises from or relates to:
   • the aspect of work organization, or the way the work is structured or
   • the social factors at work or the workplace interactions or behaviours or
   • the work environment including equipment and hazardous tasks, or
2. Could reasonably be expected to present a risk to psychological safety of a worker over a prolonged period that is excessive or unusual in intensity.

Worker involvement in psychosocial hazard management

Actively involving workers is essential to effectively identify and assess risks, and to implement controls of psychosocial hazards. Workers bring firsthand insight into job demands, workplace culture and day-to-day challenges, making their input critical to understanding real risks.

By engaging workers in discussions, surveys, assessments and decision-making, organizations gain a clearer picture of what’s happening on the ground and can develop practical, meaningful solutions. Involving workers throughout the process also builds trust, supports transparency and increases the likelihood that controls will be accepted and successful.

When workers and employers collaborate, psychological health and safety become a shared responsibility. Workplaces become safer, more supportive and more resilient.

There are 13 identified factors known to influence worker psychological safety, job satisfaction, and organizational effectiveness. Visit the Employers page to view the 13 psychosocial factors.