Browsing: Health and mental wellbeing

In a report providing important lessons for all employers and workers' compensation schemes, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has highlighted the link between complex claim systems and poor mental health outcomes, and the "ongoing and often devastating impact" of workplace abuse that arises from "hyper-masculine cultures" and other factors.

The risk of lower back pain (LBP) associated with workaholism differs depending on the level of work engagement felt by the employee, a study has found. The authors say that by improving job resources to increase engagement, employers can avoid the high levels of absenteeism associated with LBP.

Vicarious trauma is emerging as a "very prominent psychosocial hazard" in workplaces, which employers are expected to control as with any other psychosocial risk. An expert panel of WHS and mental health professionals has highlighted ways duty holders can address this "silent hazard" with prevention, intervention and recovery tactics.

The Department of Defence has been charged with multiple WHS breaches relating to its management of psychological risks and a suicide, while a safety regulator has warned employers against tolerating "low level" gender-related jokes, saying they can escalate quickly into acts of violence.

An Australian study has found a strong psychosocial safety climate (PSC) at an organisational level reduces digital job demands for remote workers and reduces their work-life conflict. It highlights key steps employers can take to increase PSC levels to improve both worker wellbeing and job performance.

With employers increasingly facing the challenge of managing workplace behaviour and conduct across a hybrid environment, a leading workplace lawyer has highlighted the key steps they can take to maintain a positive work culture, prevent bullying and harassment, and comply with their duty of care in the hybrid working world.

• Inquiry into companies' responses to major explosion announced;
  
• Lung diseases and asbestos targeted by Qld grants and workplace audits; and
  
• Clarified WHS Code takes effect in Qld.

Two-thirds of employees who work from home experience mild to severe neck, shoulder and lower back pain, while many self-report poorer performance at home than in the office, a study has found, identifying poor home-office ergonomics as the main contributing factor.

• SWA finalises model WHS Code on psychosocial hazards;
  
• OHS Code on tackling language barriers released in Vic; and
  
• Silica advice and revised WHS Codes issued in ACT.

Exposure to physical and psychological forms of workplace mistreatment increase insomnia time in workers, a study has found, clarifying why bullying from colleagues can be more "shattering" than stressors like client-perpetrated violence.