Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on managing psychosocial hazards at work: the PCBU's duty to eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks, officer due diligence, consultation, hazard identification (job demands, control, support, role clarity, change, recognition, organisational justice, trauma, remote work, environment, violence, bullying, harassment, conflict), risk assessment, controls, review, records and investigations. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275).
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 10 domains and 43 controls. The largest domains are Appendix A: Controls for job characteristics, design and management – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (10 controls), Section 5: Control the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (7 controls), Appendix B: Controls for harmful behaviours – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (6 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (10)
Appendix A: Controls for job characteristics, design and management – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A1 | Appendix A: Control job demands, both high and low |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A10 | Appendix A: Control a poor physical environment |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A2 | Appendix A: Control low job control |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A3 | Appendix A: Control poor support |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A4 | Appendix A: Provide role clarity |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A5 | Appendix A: Manage organisational change well |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A6 | Appendix A: Provide fair recognition and reward |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A7 | Appendix A: Apply organisational justice in decisions and processes |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A8 | Appendix A: Control exposure to traumatic events or material |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::A9 | Appendix A: Control remote or isolated work (WHS Regulations r 48) |
Appendix B: Controls for harmful behaviours – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::B1 | Appendix B: Identify when, where and why harmful behaviours arise |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::B2 | Appendix B: Use the physical environment and security to control harmful behaviours |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::B3 | Appendix B: Set safe work systems and procedures for harmful behaviours |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::B4 | Appendix B: Train workers and managers and give information on harmful behaviours |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::B5 | Appendix B: Adopt and enforce policies on acceptable behaviour |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::B6 | Appendix B: Review harmful behaviour controls and monitor systemic issues |
Section 1: Duties and consultation – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::1.2a | 1.2 Eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks as a primary duty of care |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::1.2b | 1.2 Officers exercise due diligence on psychosocial risks |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::1.2c | 1.2 Make workers and other persons at the workplace aware of expected behaviour |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::1.3a | 1.3 Consult workers and their health and safety representatives on psychosocial risks |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::1.3b | 1.3 Consult at each point the Act requires consultation |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::1.3c | 1.3 Consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders on shared psychosocial risk |
Section 2: The process to manage psychosocial risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::2.1 | 2 Apply the four-step risk management process and prepare before starting |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::2.2 | 2 Consider the work design, systems of work, environment and behaviours that shape the risk |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::2.3 | 2 Demonstrate leadership and management commitment |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::2.4 | 2 Consult workers at every step, especially on changes affecting work |
Section 3: Identify psychosocial hazards – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::3.1a | 3.1 Consider the common psychosocial hazards when identifying hazards |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::3.1b | 3.1 Identify workers at greater risk and consider individual needs |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::3.2a | 3.2 Identify all reasonably foreseeable hazards by consulting workers and using surveys and tools |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::3.2b | 3.2 Observe work, review existing information and look for trends |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::3.2c | 3.2 Provide a reporting mechanism that protects privacy and encourages reports |
Section 4: Assess the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::4.1 | 4.1 Decide when to carry out a risk assessment |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::4.2 | 4.2 Assess psychosocial risk by duration, frequency and severity, taking hazards together |
Section 5: Control the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::5.1a | 5.1 Identify possible controls and rank them from most to least effective |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::5.1b | 5.1 Select reasonably practicable controls and weigh cost properly |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::5.2a | 5.2 Test control measures before relying on them |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::5.2b | 5.2 Provide suitable and adequate information, training, instruction and supervision |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::5.2c | 5.2 Maintain controls so they stay effective |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::5.2d | 5.2 Develop workplace policies in consultation and do not rely on them alone |
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::5.2e | 5.2 Control the psychosocial risks created by management action |
Section 6: Review control measures – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::6 | 6 Review control measures regularly and on defined triggers |
Section 7: Recording the risk management process – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::7 | 7 Record the risk management process and outcomes |
Section 8: Work health and safety investigations – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| australia-model-code-of-practice-managing-psychosocial-hazards-at-work::8 | 8 Conduct work health and safety investigations of psychosocial incidents fairly and confidentially |
What is Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work and who does it apply to?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work is a compliance framework from Australia (model for the harmonised WHS jurisdictions: Commonwealth, NSW, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, NT; not Victoria) with 10 domains and 43 controls. The Safe Work Australia model code of practice on managing psychosocial hazards at work: the PCBU's duty to eliminate or minimise psychosocial risks, officer due diligence, consultation, hazard identification (job demands, control, support, role clarity, change, recognition, organisational justice, trauma, remote work, environment, violence, bullying, harassment, conflict), risk assessment, controls, review, records and investigations. Guidance, not law: once a jurisdiction approves it under WHS Act s 274 it is admissible evidence of what is reasonably practicable (s 275). It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work actually require?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work has 43 controls organised across 10 domains. The largest domains are Appendix A: Controls for job characteristics, design and management – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (10 controls), Section 5: Control the risks – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (7 controls), Appendix B: Controls for harmful behaviours – Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work (6 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work do I already cover?
Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work does not currently have cross-framework mappings in our system. Check back as we continuously expand our mapping database.
How do I implement Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work?
Start your Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Australia Model Code of Practice: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 43 controls and track your progress.
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