Psyhological & Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace

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Chapter : Stress Management

Psyhological & Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace

Workplace stressors 💢 like harassment, bullying, violence, or excessive workload affecting mental health. 

👉"Psychological" refers on internal mental processes, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors within an individual. Example: Someone experiencing anxiety due to a traumatic event. 

👉"Psychosocial"  Focuses both the individual's psychological aspects interact with social factors including relationships, community, and culture, to impact an individual's well-being, thoughts, feelings and external social factors. Example: A teenager struggling with peer pressure, leading to anxiety and behavioral changes due to their social environment

Inshort Psychosocial is a broader term that includes the Psychological dimension within a social context. 

The Stages Of Psyhological Safety 👇

Stage	Definition of respect	Definition of Permission	Social Exchange.
Inclusion Safety	Respect for the individuals innate need to be included, accepted and gain a sense of belonging	Permission for the individuals to interact and be their true and authentic self.	Inclusion in exchange for human status & the absence of harm.
Learner Safety	Respect for the individuals innate need to learn, grow and develop mastery	Permission for the individuals to engage in the learning process and make mistakes.	Encouragement in exchange for engagement
Contributor Safety	Respect for the individuals innate need for autonomy, and meaningful contribution	Permission for the individuals to work with appropriate autonomy and independence.	Autonomy with guidance in exchange for performance and result.
Challenger Safety	Respect for the individuals innate need to innovate and improve the status Quo.	Permission for the individuals to make challenges to the status quo in good faith.	Air cover in exchange for candor.

Psychosocial hazards are often hidden, yet deadly threats lurking in workplaces. Unlike physical dangers. these hazards silently undermine our health and well-being, leading to serious conditions such as diabetes, heart disease. and hypertension. The impact extends beyond individuals, straining family relationships and affecting overall quality of life.

Providing a safe workplace is not only about reducing or eliminating physical hazards but also about addressing psychological hazards. These hidden dangers need to be controlled and, if possible, prevented to ensure a safer environment for employees.

The statistics are alarming. According to various studies of working-age adults globally had a mental disorder. Depression and anxiety alone effects the performance & productivity also workers experiencing work-related stress reporting that it affects their home life.

To combat these issues, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This requires the commitment of senior management and the implementation of proper training and consultation. Key steps include:

• Establishing clear procedures to identify and mitigate psychosocial hazards.
• Regulating working hours and workloads to match employee capacity.
• Defining clear goals, roles, and responsibilities for all employees.
• Implementing behavior management strategies to foster a positive workplace culture.

This is Psychological Safety 👇

• Freedom to share thoughts.
• Expressing concerns.
• Allocating tasks and coaching when needed.
• A space where people feel a senseof ease and support.
• Taking measured risks afetr consideringpossible scenarios.
• Everthing is considered.

This is Not Psychological Safety👇

• Saying anything you want.
• Letting your emotions go as you please 
• Leadership taking a laissez-faire approach
• A space free of any inner discomfort.
• Taking risks and hoping for the best.
• Everything is tolerated. 

👀By Taking preventative measures, organizations can create a healthier, more supportive work environment. Let's acknowledge the importance of mental health and take proactive steps to protect our employees. Together, we can make a difference.