Psychosocial risk assessment
Step-by-step method plus the downloadable template and risk matrix used by Echo customers.
Psychosocial risk management
Board-level briefing on psychosocial hazards, duties and controls, aligned with the model Code of Practice and Western Australia’s approved Code.
Psychosocial hazards vs. psychosocial risk
Safe Work Australia describes a psychosocial hazard as anything at work that could cause psychological harm—including high job demands, low job control, poor support, remote or isolated work and harmful behaviours such as bullying or violence.Safe Work Australia
Psychosocial risk is the likelihood of harm occurring when workers are exposed to those hazards, either alone or in combination. The model Code requires PCBUs to consider how long, how often and how severely workers are exposed, and how hazards may interact, when choosing controls.Model Code
A PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) can be a company, government agency, partnership or sole trader. PCBUs carry the primary duty of care to ensure workers and others are not exposed to psychosocial risks.Safe Work Australia
PCBUs must eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks so far as is reasonably practicable, considering the likelihood and severity of harm, what is known (or ought reasonably be known) about the risk, the availability and suitability of controls, and whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.Model Code
Why boards care
- Approved Codes: Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland have approved psychosocial hazard Codes that set the benchmark for compliance assessments.WorkSafe WASafeWork NSWWorkSafe QLD
- Interaction of hazards: High workloads, poor support and remote work can combine to create higher risks and more severe harm if left unmanaged.Safe Work Australia
- Due diligence evidence: Officers must show the organisation consulted workers, resourced controls and verified effectiveness in line with the model Code’s four-step process.Model Code
Common psychosocial hazards
Drawn from Safe Work Australia guidance and Echo field programs.
- High or low job demands that outpace staffing or scheduling capacity.Safe Work Australia
- Low job control and role ambiguity, particularly for contractors and temporary teams.Safe Work Australia
- Poor organisational support and change management during restructures or rapid growth.Safe Work Australia
- Remote or isolated work without reliable communication or timely assistance.Safe Work Australia
- Violence, aggression, bullying or harassment from clients, patients or co-workers.Safe Work Australia
Remote or isolated work is both a psychosocial and physical hazard because delayed assistance can worsen harm, so communication and support controls are critical.Safe Work Australia
Map your program to the model Code
The model Code of Practice sets out a four-part risk-management process and requires consultation with workers and their representatives at each stage.Model Code Echo aligns product workflows, reporting and consultative loops with each stage so WHS teams can show compliance and effectiveness in one place.
- Identify: Combine consultation, Echo check-in data, incidents and industry guidance to spot psychosocial hazards.
- Assess: Evaluate severity and likelihood using a consistent matrix and consider how hazards may interact.
- Control: Implement controls beyond PPE—roster design, staffing, training, supervision and support systems.
- Review: Verify controls after incidents, organisational changes or feedback, and on a scheduled basis.
Use the downloadable template and linked guides below to document every step, show consultation records and keep directors briefed.
Evidence boards should see each quarter
- Summary of top five psychosocial hazards and how they trend over time.
- Closed-loop action register showing controls, owners and dates.
- Consultation log with health and safety reps, unions and health providers.
- Verification notes: audits, field leadership visits and Echo analytics.
- Escalations and regulator interactions, with lessons learned.
Build your psychosocial risk library
Start with this pillar page, then move through regulator-aligned resources tailored to your jurisdiction and sector.
WA Code of Practice summary
Clarifies PCBUs, duties and what WorkSafe WA inspectors look for when they visit sites.
Compliance by jurisdiction
Plain-English duties with links to the WA, NSW and QLD approved codes and what “reasonably practicable” looks like.
ISO 45003 guidance
How the guidance standard complements ISO 45001 and WHS obligations without creating a new certification burden.
Mining risk deep dive
Top hazards for FIFO and underground teams, plus evidence packs that satisfy mining inspectors.
Construction risk deep dive
High-risk build environments with roster tips, toolbox talk scripts and documentation checklists.
Healthcare risk deep dive
Clinical aggression, compassion fatigue and shift handover controls tailored to hospitals and aged care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal duty for boards regarding psychosocial risk?
Officers must exercise due diligence to ensure the PCBU complies with its primary duty of care, allocating resources for consultation, risk controls and verification activities outlined in the model Code and WorkSafe WA’s approved Code.Model CodeWorkSafe WA
How often should psychosocial risk assessments be reviewed?
Review assessments whenever incidents, workforce feedback or workplace changes point to new or higher risks, and maintain a regular review schedule consistent with the model Code.Model Code
How does Echo help gather defensible evidence?
Echo captures qualitative worker voice, converts it into structured insights aligned to psychosocial hazard categories and links those insights to action plans, toolbox talks and verification logs.