These are called psychological hazards. A psychosocial hazard is anything that increases the risk of work-related stress.
Many are pertinent to dairy farming: job demands; harassment; conflict or poor workplace relationships and interactions; remote or isolated work; and poor physical environment.
Dairy farmers and their staff work long hours. The workload can be intense during calving and hay season; farm accidents occur; and animal health and welfare is a constant concern. These are all issues that lead to stress and therefore impact the psychological health of the people on farm.
Psychosocial hazards exist in every workplace. Like any other risks, it is essential to understand and prepare for them in order to manage them effectively, starting with administrative controls like safe work systems and procedures.
Safe Work Australia has developed a step-by-step process and code of practice for managing psychological injury, interventions you can make to prevent your workers becoming ill or sustaining psychological injury.
A free online psychosocial risk assessment survey tool is available and is funded by Australian work health and safety regulators. Find out more: People at Work.
For further information, contact Dairy Australia People Experience Lead Ella Dixon at Ella.Dixon@dairyaustralia.com.au.
