Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace | Juniper Education

International Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (ISO 45003)

The psychological health and safety of workers have become the most challenging aspect of occupational health and safety in the UK and around the world. Even before the pandemic, work-related mental health issues cost the UK economy approx £35 billion a year. That figure is likely to rise even further.

The latest UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics record that half of all work-related ill health cases during 2019-20 were caused by stress, depression, and anxiety.

With all that data and the challenges we have had with the pandemic, there could not be a better time for the anticipated International Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (ISO 45003) to come into play. This is due to be published in summer 2021.

What is the New Psychological Health and Safety Standard?

The International Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (ISO 45003) is the first global standard giving practical guidance on managing psychological health in the workplace.

What you need to know about ISO 45003

• The standard provides help in identifying the conditions, circumstances and workplace demands that could potentially impair psychological health and wellbeing. It also states how to improve the working environment.
• It builds on what is covered by ISO 45001, which is designed to prevent work-related injury and ill health and to provide safe and healthy workplaces.
• A psychologically healthy and safe workplace is defined as one that ‘promotes workers’ psychological wellbeing and actively works to prevent harm to psychological health, including in negligent, reckless or intentional ways’.
• The standard is in ‘draft’ stage, meaning it is 95% technically accurate.

The £17 Million Government Pledge for Mental Health Initiatives

Gavin Williamson (Secretary of State for Education) has pledged funds of £17 million to schools. Of this, £9.5 million will be for school staff training.

Between September and March, up to 7,800 schools and colleges will be offered a grant to pay for training for a senior mental health lead, backed by £9.5 million in funding allocated in the spending review.

You can find the full article in Schools Week.

Mental health and awareness CPD

See also:

• Self-Injury Awareness Day 1st March
• Psychological First Aid Training