What are psychosocial hazards, and why should every worker know about them?
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When we think about workplace hazards, we often picture dangerous machinery, toxic chemicals, or unsafe equipment. But some of the most widespread threats to worker health are less visible.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines psychosocial hazards as “factors in the work environment that can cause stress, strain, or interpersonal problems for the worker, which have the potential to cause physical and psychological harm.”
They include: Excessive workloads and long hours; Little control over how work gets done; Job insecurity and unpredictable schedules; workplace bullying, harassment, and discrimination; Inadequate support from supervisors; and work demands that interfere with family and personal life.
Decades of research show that these conditions can seriously harm workers’ mental and physical health, contributing to depression, cardiovascular disease, burnout, and other illnesses. Consider these findings:
– 77% of U.S. workers reported experiencing work-related stress in the previous month, and 57% reported negative impacts on their health and well-being.
– Workers experiencing high levels of work stress are twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts as those experiencing little or no work stress.
– Workers with little control over their jobs face an estimated 45% higher risk of premature death, according to research examining workplace stressors.
These hazards are preventable. Employers can reduce risks by ensuring manageable workloads, adequate staffing, reasonable schedules, fair treatment, and greater worker participation in decisions affecting their jobs.
Public policies and workplace safety standards can also help protect workers from harmful working conditions.