Released 10/10/2023
The ACT Government has strengthened the Territory’s work health and safety laws to better protect workers from workplace psychosocial hazards.
A new Code of Practice supports these changes and will assist businesses to meet their work health and safety obligations.
Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety Mick Gentleman said the changes are in response to a recommendation of the independent Boland Review of the nationally agreed template work safety laws and deal directly with how workplace psychosocial hazards must be managed by businesses.
“Psychosocial hazards must be treated with the same seriousness as physical hazards in all Canberra workplaces,” Minister Gentleman said.
“We consider a psychosocial hazard to be anything at work that may cause psychological harm, or otherwise have an impact on someone’s mental health.
“Things like sexual harassment, exposure to traumatic materials and work-related violence can all cause serious psychological injuries.
“Ensuring the psychological safety of every worker in the ACT is critical, and particularly among our first responders who can regularly be faced with unique and challenging situations as part of their daily work.
“Our first responders in the Territory, including our ACT Ambulance Service, are at the frontline responding to traumatic events as part of their everyday work. These changes provide the foundations for legislatively recognising psychosocial hazards at work, such as traumatic events, and giving businesses the tools to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of our workers.”
Earlier this year the ACT Government introduced additional changes to work health and safety laws to further protect workers, with a new mandatory requirement for businesses to report sexual assault incidents that occur at work to WorkSafe ACT.
“The ACT Government is committed to taking action so that every worker in every workplace feels safe and supported,” Minister Gentleman said.
The legislative changes and new Code of Practice will commence on 27 November 2023.
Quotes attributable to ACT Ambulance Service A/g Chief Officer Greg Brown:
“Like all emergency services and frontline workers, the members of the ACT Ambulance Service work tirelessly to support community members in their time of need. We understand that medical emergencies are stressful events, but venting your stress on those who are there to help is unacceptable.”
“As a service, ACT Ambulance Service crews and communications centre call takers experience an average of two instances of occupational violence per week. Be it in the form of verbal or physical abuse, there is no place for such psychosocial hazards in the workplace. The ACT government’s changes to the WHS Code of Practice will help those whose job it is to help you.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases