South Australia: Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
This February 2026 code commenced in South Australia on 19 February 2026. Approved under s 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA), it guides psychosocial risk management across workplaces covered by that Act. It is admissible in WHS proceedings; an equivalent or higher safety standard may be achieved by another method.
The code addresses work design, fatigue, violence, trauma, support, organisational justice and harmful behaviours. It prioritises eliminating hazards and controlling risks through work and system design, rather than relying on individual resilience or policies alone. Consultation must involve affected workers and their health and safety representatives.
For corrections, the code expressly recognises prison-officer enforcement activities as a violence risk and prison-access delays as potential isolation. Practical application includes reviewing staffing, rosters, recovery time, communication and duress arrangements, and cumulative trauma exposure.
A disciplinary finding is not the whole safety inquiry: the code distinguishes conduct investigations from systemic WHS investigations. Even where misconduct is unproven, an underlying risk may still require control. Fairness, impartiality, support and confidentiality matter throughout.
Read the official PDF alongside current legislation and local operational arrangements.
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