Australian work health and safety policy for the regulation of psychosocial risks: perspectives from key informants

Potter, Rachael Elise; O'Keeffe, Valerie; Leka, Stavroula; Dollard, Maureen

Abstract

The regulation of psychosocial hazards and risks, for the protection of psychological health, is a highly debated issue within work health and safety (WHS). Increasing work-related psychological illness and injury, alongside growing academic evidence and community awareness, has fuelled the need to better prevent and regulate psychosocial hazards and risks. Research must clarify challenges and improvements to policy and practice from stakeholder perspectives. We conduct a qualitative interview-based investigation with 25 informed participants on the effectiveness of Australian WHS policies for the psychosocial risk regulation. Participants are active in diverse roles including policy development, program implementation, industry advice, and psychosocial risk inspection. Inductive analysis revealed divergent viewpoints that are categorised into three broad themes: (1) scant specificity in the current regulatory WHS policy framework, (2) compliance complexities, and (3) the role of regulators in action. Tension points also emerged between these themes and sub-themes, including: (a) how psychosocial risks should be addressed in legislation, (b) how to establish compliance, and (c) the role of the regulator in evaluating compliance, and facilitating education and better practice. Future research must continue to disseminate knowledge from WHS informants to guide better practice. Researchers should investigate organisational barriers that hinder WHS psychosocial risk regulation.

Citation

Potter, R. E., O'Keeffe, V., Leka, S., & Dollard, M. (2019). Australian work health and safety policy for the regulation of psychosocial risks: perspectives from key informants. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, 17(2), 112-132. https://doi.org/10.1080/14773996.2019.1590765

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 3, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 5, 2019
• Publication Date: Apr 5, 2019
• Deposit Date: Mar 22, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 6, 2020
• Journal: Policy and Practice in Health and Safety
• Print ISSN: 1477-3996
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-4003
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 112-132
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14773996.2019.1590765
• Keywords: Regulation, psychosocial hazards, psychosocial risks, work health and safety, psychological health
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1677406
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14773996.2019.1590765?journalCode=tphs20
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Policy and Practice in Health and Safety on 5 April 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14773996.2019.1590765