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IOSH is leading an IOSH-member consultation on the draft international guidance standard for psychosocial risks – ISO/DIS 45003 – and encourages members to provide feedback to help inform the Institution's submission.
Occupational health and safety management – Psychological health and safety at work: managing psychosocial risks – guidelines provide guidance on protecting psychological health by managing psychosocial risk within an OSH management system. It aims to enable organisations to manage this complex and important aspect of OSH and promote wellbeing at work.
The standard covers:
- how to identify the conditions, circumstances and workplace demands that can impact the psychological health and well-being of workers
- how to identify primary risk factors and assess them to determine what changes are can be made to limit those risks
- how to control work-related hazards and manage psychosocial risk within an OSH management system.
ISO 45003 is applicable to organisations of all sizes and in all sectors for the development, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of safe and healthy workplaces.
IOSH members are encouraged to share their consultation feedback on the draft standard
Speaking to IOSH magazine, Richard Jones, head of policy and regulatory engagement, said: 'We know from the development of ISO 45001 how paramount it is that psychosocial risks are managed in a systematic manner, consistent with other occupational health and safety risks.
'Increasingly, and particularly in the light of the challenges caused by COVID-19, organisations are recognising that a proactive approach to psychosocial risk management, through well-designed policies and programmes, can drive long-term benefits, improved worker engagement, enhanced productivity and organisational sustainability.
'These future guidelines aim to support employers in protecting and developing their organisations human and social capital, positioning workers mental health and wellbeing at the centre of the business agenda. We urge IOSH members to have their say on the proposed new standard.'
IOSH is a Category A Liaison Body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and it is invited to make direct submissions to ISO on such consultations. It is also part of the working group developing this guidance standard, through IOSH policy development manager, Dr Ivan Williams Jimenez, who added: 'IOSH members are encouraged to share their consultation feedback on the draft standard via the IOSH consultation page by 18 September, using the template provided, to help inform the IOSH submission to the standards body.'
For IOSH resources to help organisations manage psychosocial risk, click here.