Psychosocial risk management - legal responsibilities
Emily Rust
New Zealand workplaces are legally obligated to identify and address work-related risks to worker mental health and wellbeing.
The Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) states businesses have a primary duty of care to make sure the health and safety of their workers and others is not put at risk by the work they do.
Although the terms 'mental health' and 'psychosocial risk' are not explicitly mentioned within the Act, the interpretation and application of the law clearly covers these aspects as part of overall worker health and safety.
The Act also makes clear that everyone in the work system (directors, executives, leaders, workers and other people) has a role to play to ensure it is safe and healthy.
According to WorkSafe, recent changes to the HSWA (2015)