By GRC Solutions Compliance & Learning Team
Psychosocial Risk Assessment
A psychosocial risk assessment is a structured process used by organisations to identify, evaluate, and manage aspects of work that may cause psychological or physical harm to employees. Guided by Safe Work Australia’s psychosocial hazard framework and WHS regulations, it includes hazard identification, risk analysis, and implementing control measures such as training and workplace design improvements.
What Is a Psychosocial Risk Assessment?
A psychosocial risk assessment is a structured process used to identify, assess, and manage workplace factors that may harm employees’ psychological or physical health.
A psychosocial risk assessment focuses on how work is designed, managed, and experienced. It identifies psychosocial hazards such as high job demands or poor workplace relationships that can impact mental health, psychological health, and overall workplace health.
Under Australian work health and safety laws, organisations are required to actively manage risks to both physical and psychological health.
Why Psychosocial Risk Assessments Matter for Australian Workplaces
Psychosocial risk assessments play a critical role in ensuring safe, compliant, and high-performing workplaces.
Under the WHS Act 2011 and supporting regulations, employers must eliminate or minimise risks to health, including psychological harm, so far as reasonably practicable. This includes risks linked to psychosocial hazards such as poor support, low role clarity, or workplace conflict.
Safe Work Australia identifies psychosocial hazards as factors that can lead to stress and harm over time. These risks can contribute to anxiety, burnout, and physical injury, and failing to address them can have negative consequences for employee wellbeing and organisational performance.
Unmanaged psychosocial risks can result in:
- Reduced productivity and performance
- Increased absenteeism and turnover
- Lower engagement and morale
- Greater risk of injury and claims
Managing psychosocial risks supports psychosocial safety, improves outcomes, and strengthens compliance with Australian WHS requirements.
The 14 Psychosocial Hazards You Need to Assess
Safe Work Australia outlines 14 key psychosocial hazards identified in Australia that organisations must identify and manage.
- High job demands – excessive workloads or time pressure, while low job demands or too little meaningful work can also affect wellbeing
- Low job control – limited autonomy in work tasks
- Poor support – inadequate assistance from supervisors or colleagues
- Low role clarity – unclear expectations or responsibilities
- Poor organisational change management – ineffective communication during change
- Inadequate reward and recognition – lack of acknowledgment for work
- Poor organisational justice – perceived unfair decision-making
- Remote or isolated work – limited contact with others
- Poor physical environment – unsafe or uncomfortable conditions
- Violence and aggression – exposure to threatening behaviour
- Bullying – repeated unreasonable conduct
- Harassment including sexual harassment – unwelcome conduct or behaviour
- Conflict or poor workplace relationships – ongoing interpersonal issues
- Exposure to traumatic events or content – distressing situations or materials
These hazards can occur individually or in combination, increasing overall psychosocial risk.
How to Conduct a Psychosocial Risk Assessment
Step 1 – Consult with Your Workers
Consultation is required under WHS laws and ensures accurate identification of risks.
Use surveys, focus groups, and discussions to gather insights from workers across roles and teams.
Step 2 – Identify Psychosocial Hazards
Review work design, management practices, and environment factors.
Use structured approaches such as surveys and workshops to identify psychosocial hazards that may impact workers.
Step 3 – Choose an Assessment Tool
Use a validated psychosocial risk assessment tool suited to your organisation’s size, workforce, and reporting needs. Common tools referenced by Australian regulators include COPSOQ III, APHIRM, and the ADDRESS model for APS organisations. Assessment tools help identify psychosocial hazards but should be used as part of a broader psychosocial risk management process rather than as a standalone solution.
Step 4 – Analyse Risk and Prioritise
Assess the likelihood and severity of each risk.
Use data analysis and tools like heat mapping to identify high-risk areas and prioritise action.
Step 5 – Implement Control Measures
Control measures should focus on addressing the source of psychosocial risk, including work design, job demands, management practices, and team structures. Organisations must prioritise eliminating or minimising risks, rather than relying solely on individual coping strategies.
Once control measures are defined, two key downstream actions should be implemented:
- Equip managers: Provide structured psychosocial safety training for leaders (such as HRAOL’s manager training resources) to help them identify hazards early, manage risks appropriately, and meet legal responsibilities
- Train the workforce: Deliver psychosocial hazards training through a compliance LMS (such as GRC Solutions’ Salt™ LMS) to build awareness, reinforce consistent behaviours, and support compliance reporting
Step 6 – Review and Monitor
Ongoing review ensures control measures remain effective.
Reassess risks when changes occur and continuously improve your psychosocial risk management approach.
Tools for Psychosocial Risk Assessment in Australian Workplaces
Assessment tools help identify psychosocial hazards, but they are only the first step in a broader risk management process that includes consultation, implementing control measures, and ongoing review.
People at Work
A free, evidence-based Australian psychosocial risk assessment survey supported by regulators. It helps organisations identify and manage psychosocial hazards using benchmark data and structured reporting. Note: the platform is being decommissioned in 2026.
APHIRM Toolkit
A structured, evidence-based Australian toolkit designed to assess both physical and psychosocial hazards. It includes surveys, risk management guidance, and practical action planning resources.
COPSOQ III (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire)
A globally recognised, validated survey used to assess psychosocial working conditions. It is available in short, medium, and long versions (approximately 25–120 items), depending on the depth of assessment required.
MindWell Psychosocial Essentials (HRAOL)
A structured psychosocial safety package designed for organisations seeking an end-to-end approach beyond standalone assessment tools. It includes educational resources, checklists, templates, manager guides, and access to MindWell Studio. Pricing starts from $995 + GST.
GRC Solutions Psychosocial Hazards Training
Training is a key control measure following risk assessment.
GRC Solutions delivers psychosocial hazards training through the Salt Compliance Learning Management System (LMS) with reporting, tracking, and compliance support.
Workplace Conduct, Safety & Ethics Training
- Workplace Behaviours for Schools Course (Australia)
- Workplace Behaviours for Local Government Course (Australia)
- Workplace Behaviours Course (Australia)
- Work Health and Safety Training for Australian Schools
- Compliance Training
Manage Psychosocial Risks with Expert Compliance Training
Building a compliant and psychologically safe workplace requires more than assessment. It requires action.
GRC Solutions supports organisations with:
- Psychosocial hazards training aligned with Australian regulations
- Delivery through the Salt Compliance Learning Management System
- Reporting and tracking for audit readiness
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Frequently Asked Questions About Psychosocial Risk Assessment
What is a psychosocial risk assessment?
A structured process used to identify and manage workplace factors that may cause psychological or physical harm.
Is a psychosocial risk assessment a legal requirement in Australia?
Yes. Employers must manage risks to psychological health under WHS laws and meet relevant legal requirements.
What are the 14 psychosocial hazards?
They include hazards such as high job demands, bullying, harassment, and exposure to traumatic events.
What tools can be used?
Common tools include People at Work, COPSOQ III, PSC-12, and APHIRM.
How often should assessments be conducted?
Regularly and whenever significant workplace changes occur.
What control measures should be implemented?
Control measures should focus on eliminating or reducing risks through improved work design, policies, and training.
What is COPSOQ III?
A validated questionnaire used to assess psychosocial working conditions.
Who is responsible for managing psychosocial risks?
Employers are responsible, with input from workers through consultation.