Originally published by the Australian Institute of Health & Safety
In its latest biannual health surveillance report, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has underscored significant concerns in the state’s resources industry, with a sharp focus on psychosocial hazards, sexual harassment, and the implementation of the ResHealth system.
These issues have seen increased regulatory attention and reporting, reflecting both heightened awareness and the persistent challenges faced by workers in the sector.
The report revealed that RSHQ has intensified its regulatory efforts concerning psychosocial hazards, acknowledging that such exposures can severely impact workers’ physical and psychological wellbeing.
These hazards often involve complex interactions of multiple factors, including workplace relationships, organisational justice, supervision, environmental conditions, and harassment, including sexual harassment.
“The extent of internal safety and health investigations and implementation of appropriate controls following worker reports and complaints relating to psychosocial hazards is not always adequate,” the report stated, emphasising the need for more robust systems to manage these risks effectively.
One critical insight from the report is the fear among workers of raising safety and health issues related to psychosocial hazards, which underscores the need for a more supportive and open reporting culture.
RSHQ has called for comprehensive and victim-centred approaches to managing these risks, suggesting that proactive measures are essential for safeguarding workers’ health.
The report also noted that sexual harassment remains a significant issue within Queensland’s resources industry. Since 2019, RSHQ has documented 19 reports of sexual harassment, with a marked increase from one in 2021 to nine in 2023. This surge in reports aligns with heightened industry awareness and the establishment of a dedicated reporting framework by RSHQ.
Despite this increase, RSHQ cautioned that the reported figures likely do not capture the full extent of the problem. “While this increase is noted, RSHQ acknowledges this level of reporting is not representative of the full extent of sexual harassment incidents,” the report clarified.
The report also detailed the types of sexual harassment reported, ranging from offensive comments and explicit communication to more severe offences like sexual assault and stalking.
To combat this, RSHQ is developing a guideline for managing the risks of workplace sexual harassment and has initiated stakeholder consultations to ensure comprehensive and effective measures are in place.
The report also noted that the ResHealth system, an online platform for completing health assessments for coal mine workers, has seen significant uptake since its approval in April 2023.
As of the end of 2023, over 42,000 health assessments had been completed through ResHealth, including registrations from more than 37,000 coal mine workers, 5000 employer representatives, and 260 medical providers.
This widespread adoption highlights the system’s critical role in streamlining health assessments and ensuring that workers’ health data is securely managed.
Looking ahead, RSHQ said it activities will focus on assessing how well sites manage the risks associated with psychosocial hazards. The outcomes of these audits may lead to various actions, including increased engagement with industry, educational initiatives, and potential compliance or enforcement actions to enhance the overall understanding and management of psychosocial hazards in the resources industry.
