New Mental Health Obligations for ALL Victorian Employers expected to take effect mid-2022

The Victorian Government have proposed an amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Psychological Health) Regulations which are expected to take effect mid-2022.

The regulations will have a significant compliance obligation on employers to manage the risk to their employees' mental health, including duties to identify, control and implement 'prevention plans' and six-monthly reporting.

Although Victoria has taken the lead in implementing regulations focusing on Psychosocial risk mitigation, other states are sure to follow.

The critical changes that have been proposed are requiring employers to:

• identify and control risks posed by psychosocial hazards

• review risk control measure

• prepare written prevention plans where hazards are identified