Report a psychosocial hazard

Psychosocial hazards

Psychosocial hazards are a serious occupational health and safety issue.

Psychosocial hazards can cause a person to experience a negative psychological response that creates a risk to their health.

Negative psychological responses caused by exposure to psychosocial hazards can lead to physical injury, psychological injury (also known as mental injury) or both at the same time.

Common psychosocial hazards include:

• bullying
• aggression or violence
• gendered violence including sexual harassment
• exposure to traumatic events or content
• high and low job demands
• low job control
• poor support
• poor organisational justice
• low role clarity
• poor environmental conditions
• remote or isolated work
• poor organisational change management
• low recognition and reward
• poor workplace relationships.

Report psychosocial hazards to WorkSafe Victoria

Depending on the hazard, there are a number of actions you can take, including reporting to WorkSafe.

Where to find immediate help

If you feel unsafe right now or need immediate support, the following services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

• Victoria Police on 000
• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Victorian Suicide Line on 1300 651 251
• 1800RESPECT (national sexual assault hotline) on 1800 737 732
• Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 806 292

You may also consider speaking with your healthcare provider.

Support services

If you have experienced a work-related psychosocial hazard there are a range of support services available.

You can find further support by calling:

• Kidsline (for young people aged 5-25) 1800 55 1800
• MensLine Australia 1300 789 978
• No To Violence Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
• Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission 1300 292 153
• Victoria Legal Aid 1300 792 387
• The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Services 1800 064 865
• Fair Work Commission 1300 799 675
• Victims of Crime helpline on 1800 819 817 or text 0427 767 891
• Rainbow Door (specialist LGBTIQA+ support service) 1800 729 367
• Qlife (LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral) 1800 184 527
• Queerspace (LGBTIQA+ mental health support service) 03 9663 6733
• Djirra Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention Legal Services 1800 105 303
• Multicultural Centre for Women's Health 1800 656 421
• The Migrant Workers Centre 03 9659 3516