Psychosocial risk assessment for Australian workplaces
Every Australian state and territory now has work health and safety law requiring employers to identify and control psychosocial hazards. Victoria was the last to commence, on 1 December 2025. PulseBench HQ helps you run that identification step as a structured, anonymous survey — and keep a record of it.
What the law actually requires
Two things are unambiguous. First, you must identify reasonably foreseeable psychosocial hazards in your workplace. Second, under the WHS Act you must consult your workers when identifying hazards and assessing risks — not only when deciding what to do about them.
What the law does not require is a specific method. No Australian jurisdiction mandates a survey, a validated instrument, or a documented psychosocial risk assessment. A survey is one lawful way to consult at scale. Toolbox talks, HSR committees and one-on-ones are others.
The model Code of Practice puts it this way: medium to large businesses "should consider implementing a validated psychosocial risk assessment process." That is a recommendation, not a mandate — and we would rather tell you that plainly than sell you something on a misunderstanding.
The 14 hazard categories
The model Code of Practice identifies job demands, 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 harassment, and conflict or poor workplace relationships.
How PulseBench HQ helps
- Anonymous, structured consultation. A short survey every worker can complete in about two minutes, with results locked until a minimum response threshold is met.
- A COPSOQ-based risk module. Seven dimensions — workload, control, support, role clarity, relationships, change and recognition — drawn from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire.
- Aligned to ISO 45003. ISO 45003 is a guidance standard rather than a certifiable one, so we say aligned, not certified.
- A record of what you did. Hazards identified, when you consulted, what you changed, and when you reviewed it.
- Repeatable. Psychosocial risk is not a one-off exercise. Controls have to be reviewed, and a recurring pulse gives you the trend rather than a single snapshot.
Why documentation matters even though it isn't mandated
There is no general legal duty to keep psychosocial risk records. But a WHS inspector may ask how you identified and managed hazards, and you need to be able to answer. In the Court Services Victoria prosecution, the court heard the organisation had failed to conduct any adequate process to identify or assess psychosocial risks. Being able to show your process is the practical value.
See your state: Victoria · New South Wales · Queensland