Reviewed: 1 September 2026
Psychosocial risks arise mainly from the design, organisation and
management of work and from its social context. They are not an
individual weakness. Like physical, chemical or ergonomic hazards, they
should be identified, assessed and controlled systematically.
According to EU-OSHA, nearly 45% of workers report exposure to
factors that can adversely affect mental health. In the 2022 OSH Pulse
survey, 27% reported stress, anxiety or depression caused or made worse
by work.
Examples of psychosocial
hazards
- excessive workloads or unrealistic deadlines,
- conflicting demands and lack of role clarity,
- limited involvement in decisions and insufficient control over how
work is carried out, - poorly managed organisational change and job insecurity,
- ineffective communication or inadequate support from managers and
colleagues, - unsuitable working hours, high work intensity and insufficient
recovery time, - psychological or sexual harassment, violence and bullying,
- difficult interactions with customers, patients, pupils or the
public, - conflict between physical risks, safety requirements and production
pressure.
Assessment and preventive
measures
The assessment should examine how work is actually organised, not
only what written procedures say. It requires worker and representative
participation, confidential reporting routes and group- or task-level
evaluation without blaming individuals.
Priority should be given to organisational and collective measures,
including:
- realistic planning of workload, staffing and deadlines,
- clear roles, responsibilities and reporting lines,
- meaningful worker involvement in changes that affect them,
- suitable autonomy, support and resources for safe work,
- a clear protocol against harassment and violence,
- confidential early reporting without retaliation,
- management training and monitoring of whether controls are
effective, - access to appropriate support, without using support as a substitute
for prevention at source.
A risk assessment is not an acceptance of residual risk and does not
transfer responsibility to the worker. Required controls must be in
place before and during work. If they are absent, conditions change, a
new incident or hazard emerges, or controls prove inadequate, the work
and its organisation should be reviewed immediately and, where
necessary, stopped until control is restored.
EU-OSHA has scheduled the launch of its 2026-2028 Healthy Workplaces
Campaign, Together for mental health at work, for 13 October 2026. The
campaign focuses on preventing and managing psychosocial risks.
Official sources: