Mental Health Job Aid for Managers: Psychosocial Factor 13 – Protection of Physical Safety
Protection of Physical Safety is present when the employees' psychological and physical safety is protected from hazards related to the physical environment. Unlike Psychological Protection (Psychosocial factor 12), Protection of Physical Safety focuses on the protection of physical safety of employees.
Protection of Physical Safety: Where to Start?
Take Action!
Clearly communicate and display your organization's occupational health and safety statement/policy, programs, procedures and guidelines to all of your staff.
Consult your Occupational Health and Safety Advisor to confirm that all work related hazards have been identified and control measures have been developed within your organization's hazard prevention program.
Ask your employees if they have received the required training about work related hazards and their control measures.
Carefully investigate and respond promptly to any hazardous occurrences and record them in a Hazardous Occurrence Investigation Report (LAB1070) and work with your Occupational Health and Safety Committee/Representative to establish correctives measures and share them with your employees.
Provide your staff with the necessary support and resources needed to help them cope with the psychological impact of any work related injuries, such as the Employee Assistance Program or your organization's EAP. This could also include a defusing session or debriefing session to help your employees share their thoughts about what happened, family assistance programs, and psychological treatment.
Additional Resources
To assess each psychosocial factor, you may use the Organizational Review Worksheet and Survey Tool provided by Guarding Minds at Work.
Developed in collaboration with the Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace.
