Work can often be stressful, but sometimes psychological health and safety can be impacted by substantial work-related stressors or a series of stressors. A work-related mental stress injury is a psychological injury or illness caused by one or more substantial sources of stress at a person’s work or by one or more work-related traumatic events.
Psychosocial Hazards
Psychosocial hazards are sources of stress that may contribute to or have the potential to negatively impact worker mental health (and by extension, the organization). A workplace environment that protects individuals' mental health has better engagement, morale, satisfaction, retention, recruitment, and productivity.
Examples of psychosocial hazards and controls could include,
|
Psychosocial hazards |
Control measure(s) |
|
Heavy workload |
Talk to the affected worker and fairly adjust workloads and deadlines on an individual basis |
|
No team engagement |
Create a workplace design to elevate moods and share news of team successes |
|
Lack of opportunities to advance professionally |
Learn about workers’ professional goals and assist them in achieving milestones |
|
Workers not involved in important decisions |
Give workers the opportunity to provide meaningful feedback (surveys, suggestion boxes) |
|
Leaders not following organizational policies |
Hold leaders accountable for upholding organizational policies and workplace culture |
|
People who are physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive |
Promptly investigate and take actions in response to abuse |
|
Unexpected changes to responsibilities |
Communicate changes to workers before they are made and help build competence |
Exposure to psychosocial hazards can show up as:
- Staff turnover
- Workplace incidents
- Medical leave and lost work time
- Missed deadlines
- Absenteeism
- Feedback about other workers (“A co-worker is harassing me”)
- Complaints about work
- Workers isolating themselves while around others
- Changes in normal behaviour
- Presenteeism
If you identify psychosocial hazards at work, approach the situation with curiosity, compassion, and courage, instead of being quick to judge or blame. Everyone has a role to play in creating a psychologically safe work environment.
Reportable Mental Stress Injuries
Mental stress may be reported to Health and Safety by submitting an Employee Incident Report if an individual experiences a diagnosed mental stress injury caused by substantial work-related stressors or series of stressors. Substantial means the work-related stressor(s) is excessive in intensity and/or duration when compared to normal stresses experienced by people in similar circumstances. To be considered work-related, the experienced stress must be a reaction to stressor(s) that occur in the workplace while performing assigned work duties or performing a reasonable act within the scope of one’s job. The specific event(s) contributing to the mental stress should be identifiable, and the work-related stressor(s) should be the primary or main cause of the mental stress injury.
It is especially important to report mental stress injuries caused by work-related stressor(s) if there is lost time, modified duties, or medical attention sought. A person may be eligible for WSIB benefits should the case meet the aforementioned criteria.
Mental stress injuries may include traumatic mental stress, caused by one or more work-related traumatic event(s) that is suffered or witnessed firsthand. A traumatic event will usually be sudden and unexpected and something that most people would find shocking, upsetting, or disturbing.
Generally, regular management decisions and reasonably expected aspects of one’s job are not factors that contribute to a reportable mental stress injury, though they may negatively impact one’s mental health. These may include decisions or actions concerning changes to work duties or conditions, disciplinary actions, or employment termination. Productivity expectations and normal workplace interpersonal conflicts such as arguments and disagreements are typically not reportable, unless it is malicious, abusive, or amounts to workplace violence or harassment.
WSIB Policy 15-02-02: Accident in the Course of Employment
WSIB Policy 15-03-02: Traumatic Mental Stress
WSIB Policy 15-03-14: Chronic Mental Stress
Resources
- Mental Health in the Workplace - Trent University
- Psychological Wellbeing on the Job
- CCOHS Workplace Mental Health Toolkit
- Guarding Minds at Work
- Learn more about workplace stress and what to do about it with the Mental Injury Toolkit from the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers
- Learn about mental health conditions from the Canadian Mental Health Association - Ontario
- For 24/7 crisis support, call Crisis Service Ontario at 1-833-456-4566
- Find local crisis support or explore the Distress and Crisis Ontario website for distress centres servicing your community
- The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development has information about mental stress entitlements and workplace mental health resources
Last Updated: March 12, 2025