Psychosocial Risk Assessment

A psychosocial risk assessment evaluates the workplace factors that have the potential to cause psychological harm to workers. Psychosocial hazards include high or low job demands, low job control, poor support from supervisors or colleagues, unclear role expectations, organisational change and uncertainty, workplace conflict and poor relationships, bullying and harassment, traumatic events, and remote or isolated work.

This template provides a systematic approach to identifying which psychosocial hazards are present in the workplace and assessing the level of risk they present. The assessment considers the nature of the hazard, the duration and frequency of exposure, the number of workers affected, and the interaction between multiple psychosocial hazards, which can compound the risk of psychological harm.

The template addresses both organisational-level risk factors that affect groups of workers and individual-level factors that may affect specific workers or roles. It provides a framework for implementing controls at the organisational, team, and individual levels, prioritising changes to work design and organisational factors over individual-focused interventions.

Psychosocial risk assessment is required under the WHS Act 2011 general duty of care and is increasingly being addressed through specific provisions in WHS Regulation 2025. Several Australian jurisdictions have introduced or are introducing specific regulations for psychosocial hazard management, reflecting the growing recognition that psychological health is as important as physical health.

A psychosocial risk assessment should be conducted when establishing or reviewing the workplace safety management system, when organisational changes are planned (restructuring, downsizing, mergers), when psychological injury claims increase, when worker surveys indicate psychosocial concerns, when bullying, harassment, or conflict complaints arise, and when the nature of work exposes workers to traumatic events.

Regulators are increasingly including psychosocial hazards in their inspection and enforcement activities. Having a documented psychosocial risk assessment demonstrates that the PCBU has turned their mind to these hazards and implemented controls, which is central to demonstrating due diligence.

How This Is Different

This psychosocial risk assessment template is authored by occupational health professionals who understand the evidence base for psychosocial hazard management. The template goes beyond listing psychosocial hazards and provides a structured assessment methodology that considers the interaction between multiple hazards, which research shows is a critical factor in determining the level of risk. The template focuses on organisational-level controls such as job redesign, workload management, and improved supervision, rather than relying solely on employee assistance programs and resilience training. This approach aligns with current regulatory guidance and the evidence on effective psychosocial risk management.