5. Assessing psychosocial risk
As part of the assessment process, the principal or delegate in consultation with staff and HSRs, where elected, should assess the overall psychological safety of the workplace by using:
- the Psychological safety guide for schools – provides examples of workplace factors, and the associated hazards and indicators (what happens when it is lacking) to assist in identifying what hazards could be contributing to visible workplace issues
- the Psychological safety foundations checklist for schools – available to school leaders to assist in reviewing their current school environment, including strengths and areas for improvement, to proactively implement the foundations of a psychologically safe school.
When psychosocial hazards are identified, the school’s OHS risk register can be used to assess and document the current level of risk based on the controls that are already in place at the school.
Where there has been an identified psychosocial hazard (refer to the Identifying psychosocial hazards section) and there is limited understanding, or the existing controls are not effective and further exploration is required, the Psychosocial risk assessment template can be used.
The Psychosocial risk assessment template can be useful to assess specific scenarios or environments that a hazard occurs in (for example, assessing the challenges teachers face with classroom management and dealing with disruptive student behaviour).
Where hazards are suspected to be of a higher or extreme risk, based on indicators, data or feedback, schools must undertake a documented psychosocial risk assessment and use the associated risk matrix.
During the risk assessment process, the principal or their delegate should consider:
- duration – how long is the staff member exposed to the hazards or risks?
- frequency – how often is the staff member exposed to the hazards or risks?
- severity – how severe are the hazards and the workers’ exposures?
- who is or is likely to be affected
- the interactivity of psychosocial hazards, not just hazards in isolation
- physical and psychosocial hazards occurring simultaneously
- individuals or groups who may be at greater risk, for example, years of experience working in the role, number of exposures, coping style, existing mental health status
- effectiveness of current controls in place
- further consultation with relevant staff to inform the assessment.
Schools can utilise the OHS risk matrix (see Psychosocial risk assessment template ) in consultation with affected staff and HSRs (where elected), to help determine the overall risk rating of the psychosocial hazard, by evaluating the consequence and likelihood of harm occurring.
Once hazards are identified and better understood through assessment, the guide provides suggestions of actions, controls and resources to eliminate or reduce the risk of harm.
The OHS advisory service and regional OHS service officers are available to provide hands-on support to schools in understanding risks related to mental health and psychological safety in the workplace.
Reviewed 11 November 2024