Psychosocial Risks Must Be Treated As Workplace Safety Issue - Social Activist

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- Psychosocial risks such as excessive workloads, bullying and poor work-life balance must be treated as a core occupational safety and health (OSH) issue, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.

In conjunction with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work today, he said risks such as long working hours, job insecurity and harassment, if left unaddressed, could lead to stress, burnout, depression and even workplace accidents.

“A safe workplace is no longer defined solely by physical safety measures. Protecting workers must include safeguarding their mental well-being as well,” he said in a statement today.

Lee said employers should strengthen measures such as open communication, supportive leadership, reasonable workloads, adequate rest periods, flexible work arrangements, anti-bullying safeguards, access to mental health support and training for managers to identify psychosocial risks.

He stressed that stronger OSH policies that include mental health protection would help create psychologically safe workplaces, leading to lower absenteeism and staff turnover, while improving morale, innovation and productivity.

Lee also called on organisations, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to act proactively and urged authorities to enhance guidelines, awareness campaigns and compliance measures to ensure mental well-being is given equal priority alongside physical safety.

“Healthy minds create safer workplaces, and safer workplaces build a stronger nation,” he said.

-- BERNAMA