ISO 45003:2021. Mental health in the workplace

Learn about how an organization can improve the psychological health and safety of its people

Work has a significant impact on our psychological well-being and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the impact that workplace mental health can have on both employees and organizations.

ISO (The International Organization for Standardization) has published the first international standard to be used by any organization that wants to improve the way it manages psychosocial risks in the workplace. This standard is ISO 45003 and it is intended to be used together with ISO 45001 within an occupational health and safety management system.

This course presents the guidelines in ISO 45003 for improving psychological health and safety at work in correlation with the requirements for an occupational health and safety system from ISO 45001.

The structure of the course includes an introductive section where the subjects are about the importance of workplace mental health, the purpose of an occupational health and safety management system, the structure of ISO 45003, basic human needs that an organization should consider if the intention is to provide a healthy and safe environment or the workplace factors affecting psychological health and safety.

Then, the course follows the structure of ISO 45003:2021 so we will be discussing about the context of the organization, including the need to identify stakeholders and aspects that impact an organization's health and safety performance; the involvement of the top management in improving employee well-being and recognizing the importance of workplace mental health; the identification of hazards and the assessment of psychosocial risks, the programs of the organization for rehabilitation and return to work, the process for managing incidents and nonconformities or how the performance in managing psychosocial risks can be improved.

Very important for those tasked with implementing and managing OH&S systems is that the course offers multiple examples of hazards of a psychosocial nature including those in relation to poor leadership, toxic organizational culture, remote work and work in isolation, work overload and deadlines, interpersonal relationships, work/life balance, bullying and victimization or the use of inadequate and poorly maintained work equipment.

There are also many examples offered by ISO 45003 on how the organization can control its psychosocial risks and improve employee well-being.

All guidelines are explained and discussed in relationship to the requirements for an occupational health and safety management system from ISO 45001 to facilitate their understanding and to offer the whole picture to somebody who may not be familiar with the subject.

Learn about the subject of psychological health and safety at work and the best practice suggested by the first international standard on this subject, ISO 45003.