Western Australia's psychosocial Code of Practice

Why this matters

The Code is approved under Western Australia's Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and outlines what regulators consider reasonably practicable for psychosocial hazards. See WorkSafe WA — Code of Practice: Psychosocial hazards in the workplace. WorkSafe WA notes the Code was updated on 20 February 2025, with the PDF version refreshed on 19 November 2024.

How we validate

All guidance is cross-checked with WorkSafe WA's Code of Practice: Psychosocial hazards in the workplace, last PDF update 19 November 2024.

Download the assessment template or see the national compliance snapshot.

Direct answer: what does the WA psychosocial Code require?

Western Australia's psychosocial hazards Code expects PCBUs to identify hazards, assess risks, implement controls, consult workers, and review control effectiveness. It applies across sectors including mining, construction, healthcare, labour hire, government, and community services, and gives inspectors a practical benchmark for evaluating reasonably practicable psychosocial risk controls.

Who the WA Code applies to

The Code applies to every person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) in Western Australia — mining and resources operations, construction principals, labour hire providers, hospitals, local government, and community services. It should be read alongside the primary duty of care in Part 3 of the WHS Act and the risk-management duties in Part 3.1 of the WHS Regulations.

The Code also points PCBUs to companion guidance on violence and aggression, workplace behaviour, and FIFO mental health for specific risks.

Core duties summarised

• Identify hazards: consult workers, analyse Echo data, review incidents and HR metrics.
• Assess risks: consider how hazards interact and who is affected (employees, contractors, FIFO workers, students, volunteers).
• Implement controls: follow the hierarchy and ensure controls do not introduce new psychosocial hazards.
• Review controls: evaluate effectiveness after changes, incidents, or at scheduled intervals.
• Consultation: engage workers and their representatives on decisions about hazards, controls, and support services.

Reasonably practicable controls

Examples drawn from the WA Code's sector-neutral control tables.

• Resourcing work so job demands are achievable within rostered hours.
• Designing rosters that prevent excessive night shift sequences and allow adequate recovery.
• Providing secure communication systems for remote and isolated workers.
• Training supervisors to recognise psychosocial triggers and escalate support.
• Offering access to counselling, peer support, and cultural safety initiatives.

Echo maps these controls in dashboards so you can demonstrate coverage and verification.

One-page WA Code checklist

Use this before audits, regulator visits, or monthly due-diligence meetings. Cite sections from the WA Code PDF when you document evidence.

• Document your psychosocial risk assessment, including consultation notes and high-risk cohorts.
• Demonstrate how you prioritised controls using the hierarchy (eliminate, substitute, isolate, engineer, administrate, support).
• Show clear accountability: each control assigned to an owner with due date and completion evidence.
• Provide worker communication artefacts: toolbox talks, Echo broadcast summaries, posters, or shift briefings.
• Retain verification evidence: supervisor field notes, Echo trend reports, audit findings, review minutes.
• Record access to support services and escalation pathways (EAP, onsite clinicians, peer supporters).
• Track regulator interactions, union consultations, and lessons learned.

What inspectors look for

WorkSafe WA's psychosocial specialists focus on whether you can show the duty is being met. Expect requests for materials that demonstrate you followed the Code's identify → assess → control → review cycle:

• Recent risk assessments tied to specific worksites or projects.
• Evidence of consultation with health and safety representatives and remote workers.
• Training records for supervisors and frontline leaders.
• Action registers with status updates and escalation triggers.
• Support pathways, including culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers.

Link your WA obligations to national guidance

• Psychosocial risk assessment — regulator-aligned workflow with template.
• Jurisdiction compliance summary — compare WA with NSW and QLD approved Codes.
• ISO 45003 guidance — integrate guidance-standard clauses into your WHS management system.

Frequently asked questions

Is the WA Code mandatory?

Codes of Practice are not laws, but they are admissible in proceedings and outline what is considered reasonably practicable under Western Australia's WHS Act.

How is a PCBU defined in WA?

A PCBU is any legal entity conducting a business or undertaking — including companies, sole traders, government agencies, and schools. Multiple PCBUs can have overlapping duties and must consult, cooperate, and coordinate.

What documentation should officers review?

Officers should sight the psychosocial risk assessment, control plan, action register, consultation notes, and verification evidence (audits, Echo analytics, health data) at least quarterly.