Workplace psychological health and safety are just as important as physical safety. In Queensland, guidance for managing these risks is provided through the Managing the Risk of Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice 2022, developed by WorkSafe Queensland under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
This Code offers practical, plain-English guidance to help employers, managers and workers understand psychosocial hazards and take meaningful steps to reduce risk in the workplace.
Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work that may cause psychological harm. These can include (but are not limited to):
When not properly managed, psychosocial hazards can negatively impact mental health, physical wellbeing, performance, and workplace culture.
Under Queensland Work Health and Safety laws, employers (PCBUs) have a legal duty to identify, assess and manage psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
The Code of Practice explains how organisations should:
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The Code does not introduce new laws, instead, it explains how existing legal duties can be met in practice.
Understanding and applying the principles in the Code of Practice helps workplaces to:
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Many organisations also use this guidance to support training decisions, such as implementing Mental Health First Aid training as part of their broader risk management approach.
This website provides high-level, general information only and is intended to support awareness and understanding of workplace psychosocial safety.
For the most accurate, current and legally binding guidance, you should always refer to the official WorkSafe Queensland website and the full Code of Practice.