Healthy Workplace Month: 5 Ways to Move Beyond the Physical Stuff!

October is Healthy Workplace Month — a time to reflect on the well-being of employees and take proactive steps toward creating safer environments. While Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) often brings to mind hard hats, safety protocols and physical ergonomics, one essential element is sometimes overlooked: psychological health and safety.?

In today’s fast-paced world, the mental well-being of employees is just as important as their physical safety. It’s not enough to focus solely on preventing slips, trips, and falls; employers must also ensure that their teams feel supported, respected and mentally safe.

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So What Is Psychological Health and Safety, Exactly?

?Psychological Health and Safety (PHS) refers to organizational practices and policies that protect and promote mental well-being. It’s about creating a culture where employees feel secure expressing concerns, where workloads are manageable, and where the risk of stress-related burnout is minimized. A psychologically safe workplace fosters collaboration, innovation and engagement — elements crucial to long-term success. There’s plenty of research showing a strong business case for optimizing PHS, as it can significantly enhance organizational performance. In a nutshell, when your team members are healthy, safe and happy they’re also more productive, miss less time, more likely to stay with the organization long term… the list goes on.

In 2013 Canada introduced the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace — a global first — underscoring a commitment to advancing mental well-being in the workplace. This standard provides a framework for organizations to promote mental health and prevent psychological harm due to workplace conditions. You can download The Standard itself HERE and I really love the helpful implementation tools found HERE.

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Why Psychological Health is Crucial in OHS

When someone experiences psychological distress it can lead to a cascade of issues that compromise not only their health but also the overall safety of the work environment. High levels of stress, anxiety or depression can reduce focus, increase errors and heighten the risk of physical accidents. When we’re feeling overwhelmed we’re also less likely to adhere to safety protocols or notice potential hazards.

On the flip side of the coin, a psychologically safe workplace promotes:

• Increased Awareness: When your team members feel supported, they’re more likely to be vigilant, take the steps to reduce risks and adhere to safety measures
• Better Engagement: Employees who feel valued and mentally secure tend to engage more fully in their work, which leads to better decision-making and fewer errors
• Lower Absenteeism: Mental health challenges contribute to increased absenteeism; by addressing psychological safety, organizations can reduce the number of sick days and maintain a more productive workforce

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Ok, I’m Convinced! What Can My Organization Do to Create a Psychologically Safe Workplace

Incorporating psychological health and safety into occupational safety initiatives requires strategy and intentionality. As I often tell my clients, “A psychologically safe and healthy workplace doesn’t happen by accident”! Here are some concrete steps in the right direction that your organization can commit to.

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