Unsafe job demands, according to Comcare’s National Regulatory Program Director, are the most common psychosocial hazards in workplaces at the moment.
Job demands are an imbalance between the demands that the workers are performing and the resources available to navigate those demands. Counterintuitively, job demands encompasses not just high workloads but low as well such as: having too little to do, monotonous or repetitive tasks, sustained concentration or vigilance, repeatedly switching tasks, having to display false emotions at work, and being idle when there is a high workload from having to wait for equipment or other workers.
Our Take
Addressing job demands is not just a physical resources matter. It is so much more than that and understandably like many psychosocial hazards is difficult to detect. To effectively manage their primary WHS duty, employers should re-engage and increase its consultation efforts with its workplace by checking on a whole range of resources including the number and skill of workers and the tools, systems and processes available to support the accomplishment of the work in question.
Action Points:
Consult with your workers to identify ‘peaks and troughs’ patterns
‘Pinch hit’ with additional resources for ‘surge’ requirements
Supplement additional tasks or schedule leave where low workloads occur
Provide complementary work schedules to deal with the resource initiatives and patterns
Edge Legal
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