Managing psychosocial risks
Find out how to keep workers safe from these less visible hazards.
Not every workplace potential hazard is as obvious as a puddle of water on the floor, a frayed electrical cord, or a piece of machinery without a safety guard.
Workplaces can also contain hazards that are less visible—but just as harmful to worker health, well-being, and productivity. These are called “psychosocial risks” because they affect workers’ psychological and social experience.
A combination of psychological factors and the social environment, they can increase workers’ risk of work-related mental and even physical stress. They can develop from poor work design, organization, and management. Examples of psychosocial risks include workloads that are too big, management that is unresponsive to worker concerns, and workplace bullying or incivility.
Think about psychosocial risks the same way you would physical hazards by assessing and addressing them.
Some ways to manage psychosocial risks are by providing:
- Psychological and social support
- Work-life balance
- Clear leadership and expectations
- Civility and respect
- Time and resources to manage workloads
- Growth and development opportunities
Keep an eye out for psychosocial risks—and manage them like you would any other safety and health hazard that affects your workers and business.
Learn more about how to deal with psychosocial risks at work by watching this video in English or in Spanish.
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