Browsing: Emerging risks | Page 10

Miners who struggle with heavy workloads experience unsafe "states" that significantly increase the risk of work incidents, but high levels of job satisfaction can mitigate the risk and regular workload assessments are crucial, a study has found.

UK researchers have emphasised the need for protective wellbeing strategies for remote workers, after finding working from home increases the likelihood of engaging in unhealthy alcohol and tobacco consumption, and physical health and mental wellbeing deteriorating, particularity in younger people.

Australian researchers have found a combination of exercise and ergonomic interventions decrease the risk of neck pain in office workers and is more effective than another strategy. They urge employers to implement simple exercise routines to help prevent the common and costly musculoskeletal disorder.

A first-of-its-kind study has shown exposure to work-related violence or threats increases the odds of certified sickness absence due to mental disorders by 46 per cent, highlighting the importance of comprehensive risk assessments to identify and control potential hazards.

In this Q&A with OHS Alert, an organisational engagement and resilience expert explains how safety professionals can engage their C-suite to improve safety outcomes, and examines emerging and often overlooked work-related risks.

As workplaces and communities become more "safety informed" and aware of the ways workplace safety culture impacts their personal wellbeing, employers need to be on top of their WHS responsibilities. A leading advisory firm has highlighted the essential steps employers must take to meet their due diligence duties, ensure they are prepared for WHS crises, and monitor and support the psychological health of workers.

The arts sector is comprised of more workers than the law enforcement and firefighting sectors combined, but WHS in the arts is often overlooked due to work conditions being poorly understood, resulting in poor safety outcomes, an occupational medicine academic has warned.

Artificial intelligence-based worker management systems are increasingly being integrated into workplaces, but experts have warned that while there are benefits to these novel systems, they come with physical and psychological safety risks, including excessive monitoring, which require specific mitigation strategies.

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.

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.