Construction psychosocial risk assessment
Top hazards, controls, shift nuances and evidence you can show an inspector for construction teams.
Top psychosocial hazards in construction
- High job demands driven by compressed programs and variation orders.Safe Work Australia
- Low job control when workers have limited say over sequencing and methods.Safe Work Australia
- Poor organisational justice arising from inconsistent supervision across subcontractors.Safe Work Australia
- Violence or aggression from clients, the public or other workers on live sites.Safe Work Australia
- Remote or isolated tasks (e.g. night works, satellite crews) that limit support.Safe Work Australia
Typical controls regulators expect
- Resource projects so job demands are achievable within rostered hours and allow rotation between tasks.Safe Work Australia
- Engage workers and subcontractors in planning to increase job control and role clarity.Safe Work Australia
- Implement procedures and training to prevent bullying, aggression and violence on site.Safe Work Australia
- Provide reliable communication devices, buddy systems and supervision for isolated crews.Safe Work Australia
- Use fair performance and payment processes to support organisational justice.Safe Work Australia
Roster and shift nuances
Stagger shifts to avoid excessive consecutive night works, plan demobilisation periods, and track cumulative hours for subcontractor crews who work multiple sites.Safe Work Australia
Sample toolbox talk
Toolbox spotlight: share a real example of variation stress, invite crews to flag resourcing issues early, and reinforce escalation pathways for unreasonable client requests.
Close by reminding teams about Echo check-ins and how to escalate concerns confidentially.
Evidence to keep inspection-ready
- Project-specific psychosocial risk assessment linked to construction phases, with consultation notes.Model Code
- Pre-start, toolbox and consultation records demonstrating worker involvement in control decisions.Model Code
- Action tracker covering workload, staffing, welfare facilities and behaviour controls with verification dates.Safe Work Australia
- Incident and grievance records showing how violence, bullying or role clarity concerns were addressed.Safe Work Australia
Link back to the pillar resources
- Psychosocial risk pillar page for definitions and board context.
- Four-step assessment guide to document your process.
- Jurisdiction compliance summary for WA, NSW and QLD duties.
Frequently asked questions
How do we handle overlapping PCBUs?
Document coordination meetings, shared risk assessments and joint action plans between principal contractors and subcontractors so duties remain aligned.Model Code
What triggers a review mid-project?
Major program changes, incidents, worker feedback or the introduction of new contractors should trigger an immediate review of hazards and controls.Model Code
How do inspectors check toolbox quality?
Inspectors review records, observe sessions and confirm workers understand hazards, controls and how to seek support.Model Code