Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)
Commenced 31 March 2022, bringing WA into line with the model WHS laws — health explicitly includes psychological health.
Western Australia · Employer guide
Psychosocial hazards in the workplace WA
Safer work starts with your people.
What Western Australia law requires — and how to protect your people.
Hazard examples
14
Your regulator
WorkSafe WA
Your duty
Identify · Assess · Act · Monitor
Understand your obligations
What are the rules in Western Australia?
Quick answer
In Western Australia, psychosocial hazards in the workplace are regulated under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA), which commenced on 31 March 2022, and its supporting regulations. WorkSafe WA's Code of Practice on psychosocial hazards in the workplace explains how to identify hazards, control risks and review controls. WA follows the national framework of 14 common psychosocial hazards, with particular focus on FIFO and resources work.
The legal framework
The laws that apply in WA
WHS (General) and (Mines) Regulations 2022
Supporting regulations covering general workplaces and mines, including duties to manage risks to psychological health.
Code of Practice: Psychosocial hazards in the workplace
WorkSafe WA's code giving practical guidance for employers on identifying and controlling psychosocial risks.
Key milestones
How we got here
31 Mar 2022
WHS Act 2020 (WA) and regulations commence.
2022
WorkSafe WA Code of Practice on psychosocial hazards released.
Ongoing
Strong regulatory focus on sexual harassment and FIFO mental health in mining.
Recognise the risk
Common psychosocial hazards in Western Australia workplaces
Hazards rarely appear alone — they stack, and the combined effect drives harm.
- Job demands (high or low)
- Low job control
- Poor support
- Lack of role clarity
- Poor organisational change management
- Inadequate reward and recognition
- Poor organisational justice
- Traumatic events or material
- Remote or isolated work
- Poor physical environment
- Violence and aggression
- Bullying
- Harassment, including sexual and gender-based harassment
- Conflict or poor workplace relationships
Local context matters
What's different in WA?
FIFO and mining
Long rosters, isolation from family and camp living make remote work, fatigue and harassment key risks in WA's resources sector.
Sexual harassment in mining
WA's parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment in FIFO mining ("Enough is Enough", 2022) put this hazard firmly on the regulator's agenda.
Mines have their own rules
Mining operations are covered by the WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022, so resources employers should check both general and mines obligations.
People, not paperwork
How Western Australia employers can manage psychosocial risk
Flourish360 helps people become better humans at work — and gives you the evidence trail to show your risk management in action.
01
Identify
Surface hazards early from everyday signals, not annual surveys.
02
Assess
Understand risk across the recognised hazard categories.
03
Act
Implement controls that address the source of the risk.
04
Monitor
Keep a live, evidence-backed record that proves the work.
Jurisdictions
How many psychosocial hazards are there in Australia?
It depends on which WHS laws cover your workplace: 14 under the national model, 16 in Victoria and 17 for Commonwealth workplaces under Comcare. None of the lists is exhaustive — they're a starting point.
14
Model WHS laws
Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice names 14 common psychosocial hazards — the baseline most states and territories work from.
16
Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria's Psychological health compliance code gives 16 examples of psychosocial hazards under Victoria's own OHS laws.
17
Commonwealth (Comcare)
Commonwealth workplaces under Comcare work with 17, adding fatigue, job insecurity and intrusive surveillance such as digital tracking.
Sources: Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice, WorkSafe Victoria's Psychological Health Compliance Code and Comcare's psychosocial hazards guidance. See the full hazard list
Your questions, answered
FAQs: psychosocial hazards in Western Australia
When did WA's WHS laws covering psychosocial hazards start?
The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) and its regulations commenced on 31 March 2022.
How many psychosocial hazards are there in WA?
WA follows the national model framework of 14 common psychosocial hazards.
Who regulates psychosocial hazards in WA?
WorkSafe WA, part of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, regulates workplace health and safety including mines.
Source: WorkSafe WA. General information only, not legal advice.
Explore another state
Better humans. Safer workplaces.