World Day for Safety & Health at Work 2026

Looking Beyond Physical Safety: The Importance of Psychosocial Wellbeing

28th April marks World Day for Safety & Health at Work, led by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This year’s theme, “Ensuring a healthy psychosocial working environment”, highlights an important shift in how workplace safety is viewed.

Traditionally, safety has focused on physical hazards. However, there is increasing recognition that how people experience work including workload, role clarity, support, and working conditions has a direct impact on both wellbeing and performance.

What does “psychosocial” mean?

The term “psychosocial” refers to the combined influence of psychological factors and the surrounding social environment on a person’s health and ability to function. In a workplace context, this is often described as the “hidden” side of safety the factors that may not be immediately visible but can significantly affect employees.

Why does it matter?

Psychosocial hazards can have serious consequences. The ILO reports that up to 840,000 deaths globally each year are linked to psychosocial issues, including cardiovascular disease and mental health conditions. In addition, it is estimated that 45 million working days are lost annually, impacting both organisations and the wider economy.

For employees, these risks can lead to stress, burnout, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. For organisations, the impact can be seen through absenteeism, reduced productivity, lower engagement, and challenges with staff retention.

Identifying psychosocial hazards

Psychosocial risks vary depending on the workplace, but some common examples include excessive workload, lack of role clarity, poor communication, limited support, workplace conflict, shift work, and lone working.

Because these hazards are not always visible, they can often go unrecognised unless there is a proactive effort to identify them.

What can organisations do?

As with all workplace risks, the first step is to recognise and assess psychosocial hazards. Employers should identify potential risks, carry out appropriate risk assessments, and implement control measures to manage them effectively.

Clear policies and procedures should be in place, well communicated, and easily accessible. Managers should be supported and trained to understand how to respond to these risks, and additional supports such as Employee Assistance Programmes can also play an important role.

Importantly, improving psychosocial wellbeing does not have to be complex. Small, consistent changes in communication, support, and clarity can make a meaningful difference.

A broader view of safety

Workplace safety is no longer just about physical conditions. It is about creating an environment where people feel supported, understood, and able to perform at their best.

By recognising both the visible and invisible risks, organisations can build stronger, healthier, and more resilient workplaces where safety is part of everyday operations, not just a compliance requirement.