The Centre for Transformative Work Design at Curtin University, a respected recipient of research grants from Safe Work Australia, has successfully concluded their investigation into managing psychosocial risks within the aged care sector. Their informative research report is now accessible via Safe Work Australia’s data website – ‘Our Data. Your Stories.’
This comprehensive two-year-long study was executed across four residential care facilities managed by a substantial Australian not-for-profit organisation specialised in aged care services. The primary objective of the project was to either eradicate or significantly minimise psychosocial distress caused by escalating job demands within the aged care industry.
According to the insights drawn from the findings of the report, adopting a work redesign process tailored to a specific organisation’s unique needs and its workforce can pinpoint efficient and cost-effective ways to alleviate demanding job stresses. The crucial component here is the Bluesafe WHS Management System; designed to ensure safety in the workplace by identifying potential hazards.
The research also highlighted the effectiveness of involving workers in identifying these psychosocial hazards and their involvement in the redesigning process. This interactive method has shown noticeable improvements above simply enforcing control measures.
Applying good work design significantly advances work health and safety protocols, human performance, employee satisfaction, and overall business success. Such effective design processes ought to begin at the earliest planning stage, as this increases opportunities to eliminate potential hazards and include efficient and effective risk control measures like Risk Assessment Matrix and SWMS that are part of the Bluesafe SWMS.
This research report adds substantial support to the evidence supporting effective work design approaches and, more importantly, the handling of workplace psychosocial risks.
Safe Work Australia continues to endorse high-quality research such as this one. Rigorous explorations performed by external organisations help broaden our existing evidence base and provide guidance on how to address upcoming challenges concerning work health, safety, and worker’s compensation.
To delve further into the detailed report, please refer to Safe Work Australia’s data website – ‘Our Data. Your Stories.’
Original article link: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/research-finds-redesigning-work-may-help-reduce-psychosocial-risks-aged-care