Understanding psychosocial hazards and UQ supports

Workers having little or no control over what happens in their work environment, how or when their work is done or the objectives they work towards.

Examples: excessive monitoring of work tasks and/or breaks; unpredictable working hours; little or no involvement or input into decisions that affect workers; insecure or precarious work, or work that involves uncertainty over the length of the job rolling fixed-term contract work.

Tasks or jobs where workers have inadequate emotional and/or practical support from supervisors and/or co-workers; inadequate training or information to support their work performance; or inadequate tools, equipment or resources to do the job.

Examples: poorly maintained or inadequate access to equipment/tools or supervisory support, lack of functional or adequate IT systems, limited opportunities to engage with co-workers during the work shift.
 

Jobs where there is uncertainty about, or frequent changes to, tasks and work standards; where important task information is not available to workers; or where there are conflicting job roles, responsibilities, or expectations.

Examples: a worker being given multiple priority tasks from different managers, a worker being given conflicting information about work standards and performance expectations.
 

Organisational change management that is poorly planned, communicated, supported, or managed.

Examples: not consulting workers on changes in the workplace that affect them, lack of practical support for workers during implementation of workplace changes.
 

Jobs where there is an imbalance between workers’ effort and recognition or rewards, both formal and informal. 

Examples: not being recognised for extra effort or commitment, no reasonable opportunities for career development.
 

A lack of procedural fairness (fair processes to reach decisions), informational fairness (keeping relevant people informed), or interpersonal fairness (treating people with dignity and respect). 

Example: inconsistent, unfair, discriminatory or inequitable decisions and application of policies or procedures.
 

Poor relationships or conflict between workers, managers, supervisors, coworkers or others with whom workers are required to interact. Frequent or excessive disagreements, disparaging or rude comments, either from one person or multiple people. 

Examples: Unresolved and excessive conflict regarding work tasks, processes, customers, interpersonal issues.
 

Work that is isolated from the assistance of other persons because of location, time, or the nature of the work. Isolated work includes work where there are no or few other people around or where workers are required to live away from home for extended periods.

Examples: workers who spend a lot of time travelling (e.g. driving); workers working alone from home or socially isolated away from home over protracted periods of time.
 

Exposure to hazardous work environments that create a stress response. 

Examples: work environments that involve poor air quality, high or nuisance noise levels, extreme temperatures, or uncontrolled biological hazards (e.g. blood or bodily fluids or infectious pathogens).
 

Investigating, witnessing, or being exposed to traumatic events. This may include reading, hearing or seeing accounts of traumatic events.

Examples: witnessing or investigating fatalities, serious injuries, abuse, neglect or serious incidents; being exposed to extreme effects of natural disasters or seriously injured people.
 

Any incident where a person is abused, threatened, or assaulted at work or while they are carrying out work. This includes abuse, threats or assaults by workers, clients, patients, visitors, or others.

 Examples: Biting, spitting, kicking, throwing objects, using or threatening to use a weapon, verbal abuse and threats, aggressive behaviour such as yelling, or physical intimidation.
 

Repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety. This includes bullying by workers, clients, patients, visitors, or others.

Examples: repeated incidents of practical jokes or initiation, spreading misinformation or malicious rumours, belittling or humiliating comments, being verbally denigrated or threatened.
 

Harassment in relation to personal characteristics such as age, disability, race, sex, relationship status, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status. Sexual harassment - any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is done either to offend, humiliate or intimidate another person, or where it is reasonable to expect the person might feel that way

Examples: telling insulting jokes about particular racial groups; making derogatory comments or taunts about someone’s disability; asking intrusive questions about a person’s body; staring, leering or unwelcome touching; sexual or suggestive comments, jokes or innuendo; unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against a person.