Blog

24 June 2025 

🧠 Psychosocial Safety: Why It’s the Workplace Priority We Can’t Ignore

In today’s workplaces, safety is no longer just about hard hats and hazard signs it’s about how people feel at work. Psychosocial safety has emerged as a top priority for businesses, and for good reason: when employees feel psychologically safe, they are healthier, more productive, and more likely to speak up before problems escalate.

💬 What is Psychosocial Safety?

Psychosocial safety is about protecting employees from work-related stressors that can affect their mental health, such as:

• Job demands that are too high or unclear
  
  
  

• Bullying, harassment, or exclusion
  
  
  

• Poor support from leaders
  
  
  

• Unsafe workplace culture (where people fear speaking up)
  
  
  

• It’s not just a wellbeing issue, it’s a compliance issue too. Under Australian WHS legislation, employers are now legally required to manage psychosocial hazards just like physical ones.

• 🚨 Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

• In 2025, LinkedIn discussions and industry forums are filled with talk about psychological injury claims rising across industries, particularly in health care, education, retail, and small businesses. These risks often fly under the radar, but the consequences can be significant:

• Long term absences
  
  
  

• Workers’ compensation claims
  
  
  

• High staff turnover
  
  
  

• Reputational damage
  
  
  

• ✅ What Can Businesses Do?

• Here’s how small and medium-sized businesses can start managing psychosocial risks effectively:

• 1. Acknowledge the Risks

• Not all stress is bad, but chronic, unmanaged stress is. Start by identifying the psychosocial hazards in your workplace through surveys, staff feedback, or risk assessments.

• 2. Train Your Leaders

• People don’t leave bad jobs, they leave unsafe managers. Equip your supervisors to lead with empathy, hold respectful conversations, and respond early to signs of distress.

• 3. Build a Speak-Up Culture

• Psychosocial safety thrives in workplaces where people feel safe to raise concerns. Encourage open dialogue, offer anonymous reporting tools, and follow up meaningfully.

• 4. Document and Review

• Document your psychosocial risk management approach, just like you would for physical hazards. Regularly review what’s working and where improvements are needed.

• 💡 Final Thoughts

• Psychosocial safety isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about building trust, protecting people, and creating workplaces where everyone can do their best work.

At Support & Safety Solutions, I help businesses take practical steps to meet their legal obligations while creating more connected, resilient teams. Whether you're starting from scratch or reviewing your current approach, I’m here to make it simple and achievable.

Need support with your psychosocial risk assessment or a tailored action plan for your business?
📩 Get in touch — I’d love to help.

Why Healthcare Injuries Are on the Rise – And What Employers Can Do About It
16 June 2025

The healthcare and social assistance sector, think hospitals, aged care, disability services, and community health is seeing a sharp rise in worker injuries and compensation claims. Whether you're managing a care home, allied health service, or medical clinic, these changes can have a big impact on your team and your bottom line.

Let’s break down what’s going on and what you can do to stay ahead.

🚨 What’s Going On?

Safe Work Australia data shows that healthcare workers are taking more time off after an injury, and the cost of workers’ compensation claims is climbing fast.

Key Facts:

• ⏱ Time off has more than doubled
  In 2013–14, most injuries resulted in 1 week off work. By 2021–22, this jumped to 2.4 weeks.
  
  

• 💵 Costs have skyrocketed
  The average claim went from about $2,300 to over $5,400.
  
  

• 🏋️ Manual handling is a major issue
  Injuries from lifting and repetitive tasks (called “body stressing”) now cost over $7,300 per claim.
  
  

• 🧠 Mental health claims are rising fast
  These are the most expensive type of claim—averaging $37,000 each, with 20+ weeks off work.
  
  

• 🏥 Where it’s happening
  Most mental health-related claims come from hospitals (30%) and aged care facilities (28%).
  
  

💡 What This Means for Employers

If you're a healthcare employer, these rising numbers affect more than just your workers' compensation premiums. Injuries especially psychological ones, can lead to burnout, high turnover, and stretched rosters.

More importantly, they’re a sign that your team might be struggling with the physical and emotional load of their roles.

✅ What You Can Do Now

Here are 5 smart steps to help protect your people and your business:

1. Look at the data
   Review your own incidents and trends. Are there repeat issues or high-risk tasks?
   
   

2. Do a psychosocial risk assessment
   New laws now expect businesses to manage risks like work pressure, role conflict, and bullying, just like physical hazards.
   
   

3. Support mental wellbeing
   Train managers in mental health awareness. Build a culture where people feel safe speaking up early.
   
   

4. Refresh your manual handling training
   Make sure staff have the right tools, training, and support for safe lifting and movement.
   
   

5. Engage your team
   Safety works best when staff are involved. Ask for their input and include them in planning solutions.
   
   

Let’s Make Safety Work for You

At Support & Safety Solutions, I help small to medium healthcare and community businesses build safer, stronger teams, without the overwhelm. Whether you need help with psychosocial risk, safety systems, or injury prevention strategies, I offer flexible and tailored support that fits around your team.