Social Sustainability
Psychosocial Hazard
Definition
A psychosocial hazard is any aspect of the design, organisation or management of work, or its social context, that has the potential to cause psychological or physical harm. Recognised hazards include excessive workload, low job control, poor support, role ambiguity, bullying and harassment, job insecurity and exposure to traumatic events; they are addressed through the same risk-management process as physical hazards under frameworks such as ISO 45003.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Psychosocial Hazard” is defined and used.
Source imported for editorial provenance.
Overview
How it is used
The concept appears in OHS law and guidance (EU-OSHA, ISO 45003, Australian model WHS regulations), workplace risk assessment and corporate wellbeing and human rights due diligence.
Why it matters
Work-related psychosocial harm is a major and growing health burden; recognising its organisational causes shifts responsibility from individual coping to employer duty of care.