PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURIES

A FORUM FOR THE DISABILITY SECTOR

August 2009

AGENDAWelcomeLegislative obligationsResearch Project overview – Disability Workers

and Job stressResearch Project – Strategies to improve

management of Psychological InjuriesPreventing Psychological InjuryEmployee Assistance ProgramsManaging claims for psychological injury – insurer

perspectiveWay ahead

LEGISLATIVE OBLIGATIONS

SUE SMITH, Disability Safe Project Manager

WHAT IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY

Under Workers Compensation legislation a psychological injury is defined as one which has a physiological effect as opposed to producing a mere emotional impulse, which arose out of or in the course of employment and employment was a substantial contributing factor.

Exclusion is in cases where the psychological injury arose wholly or predominantly from the reasonable action of employer in relation to transfer, promotion etc

NSW OHS Act 2000

• Employer has an obligation to ensure the health, safety and well-being of employees.

• Employers are required to identify foreseeable hazards that may arise from the conduct of the employer’s undertaking, to assess the risks of those hazards and to eliminate the risks or if not reasonably practicable to do so, to control the risks.

Step 1: Identify the hazards

What or who is creating the stress? Consider:• Culture• Demands such as workload• Control• Relationships• Change• Role• Support from colleagues and management• Training• Individual factors

Step 2: Identify the risks which flow from the hazards

Who might be harmed?

How?

Step 3: Evaluate the risks, eliminate or manage them

Consider:• Improve communication• Provide sufficient resources• Policies and procedures dealing with behaviour issues• Give staff opportunity to plan their own work• Disciplinary and grievance procedures to deal with

unacceptable behaviour• Genuine consultation before, during and after change• Roles discussed and negotiated• Induction and professional development opportunities

Step 4: Record and review assessment regularly

WAY AHEAD

Please break into groups of 5 or 6 and discuss any issues which today’s forum has raised or using the policy template discuss what should be included in a Prevention of Violence Policy

PROCEDURE INCLUSIONS

• Training of staff and managers/supervisors• Reporting• Counselling• Disciplinary actions• Risk assessments• Security systems• Critical incident procedures• Record keeping

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TODAY’S FORUM

PLEASE COMPLETE THE EVALUATION SHEET AND TRAVEL HOME SAFELY