Is the Work Safe? Do I Feel Safe? A ‘Choose Your Own’ Psychosocial Adventure

Abstract

Physical and psychosocial demands are known to affect the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Psychosocial factors are also known to affect the length of time for employees to return back to work after a work-related injury. Internationally, despite the vast body of research and multitudes of different approaches in this area over the last 2–3 decades, many employers report that they are unsure what psychosocial factors are or what to do prevent injury or to enable easier and quicker return to work. In light of this challenge, WorkSafe Victoria, Victoria’s occupational health and safety regulator, has developed a simple and interactive visual engagement concept to support the publication of work-related stress guidance material and manual handling guidance material. It is designed to show employers what psychosocial factors are, and the role they play in the development of injury and how they can affect an employee returning to work after injury. The concept includes how the Victorian occupational health and safety legislation applies and how discharging of health and safety duties can impact both positively and negatively on injury, wellbeing, workplace safety culture, business productivity and life at home and in the greater community. More importantly, the visual concept can provide a talking point for what good interventions can look like for organisational psychosocial factors. Be part of the ‘choose your own’ adventure during the poster presentation “Is the work safe? Do I feel safe?” and see creativity in practice from WorkSafe Victoria.