April 28 is International Workers Memorial Day— a time when unions, workers, and families gather in every state and territory to remember those who have lost their lives as a result of workplace injury or illness, and to renew the commitment to safer workplaces.
In 2026, the theme is Fighting Psychosocial Hazards at Work – a powerful reminder that workplace safety is about more than just physical risks.
What are psychosocial hazards?
Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work that can cause psychological harm. They include common workplace challenges such as excessive workloads, low job control, lack of role clarity, bullying, harassment, and exposure to traumatic events or material.
For decades, workplace health and safety focused primarily on physical risks such as machinery, hazardous materials, and unsafe working environments. While these are still important, there is now a much stronger understanding about the effects of psychological harm at work, making it equally relevant to the conversation about workplace safety.
According to Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics 2025, the number of serious mental health injury claims increased by 14.7% in a single year, from 15,300 to 17,600 in 2023-24. Mental health conditions now account for 12% of all serious claims, the highest percentage ever recorded. Over the past decade, serious psychological claims have increased by 161%, the highest growth of any injury category [1].
The impact is also more severe. Workers with a psychological injury are absent from work for an average of 35.7 weeks, nearly five times longer than other serious injury types, and the financial costs are significantly higher. The median compensation cost is $67,400, compared to $16,300 for other injuries [1].
Where Australian workers are right now
The workplace conditions driving these numbers are well documented. The most common causes of psychological harm are harassment and workplace bullying (33.2%), work pressure (24.2%), and exposure to violence and aggression (15.7%). These are not individual issues. They are shaped by how work is designed, managed and led. [1].
Beyond compensation data, the broader picture is equally concerning. Recent survey data shows nearly half of Australian workers report experiencing some level of burnout, and a significant number are losing sleep due to work-related stress [2]. These are not personal failures; they are symptoms of workplace issues that have not been properly identified or addressed.
Safety applies to the whole person
International Workers Memorial Day exists to remind us that going to work should not come at the cost of a person’s health.
Under Australian work health and safety laws, employers have the same legal duty to protect workers from psychological harm as they do physical risks. This means identifying and addressing psychosocial hazards at work. In practice, that includes examining workload, job design, leadership behaviours and whether workers feel safe to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
The primary goal is prevention. The evidence is clear: improving workplace cultures and work design reduces absenteeism, increases productivity, and boosts retention.
What good work looks like
All workers, health and safety representatives, managers, and employers play a role in recognising psychosocial hazards before they cause injury. The tools and frameworks exist to create mentally healthy workplaces. The evidence base is growing. What matters now is action
That is how we honour the workers we have lost and create the conditions that prevent future harm.
Sources: [1] Safe Work Australia, Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025. [2] CMHAA, Leading Mentally Healthy Workplaces Survey 2025.
