Enhancing Workplace Safety: Addressing Psychosocial Hazards in Modern Organizations

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyse the impact of psychosocial hazards on safety management in organizations, identify key challenges related to minimizing them, and indicate effective strategies and best practices that support creating a safe work environment. The article focuses on the significance of psychosocial factors such as occupational stress, time pressure, interpersonal conflicts, and bullying, and their impact on the effectiveness of occupational health and safety measures. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is based on a literature review, an analysis of legal regulations concerning psychosocial safety, and case studies of organizations implementing strategies to minimize psychosocial risks. The article attempts to answer the research question: How do psychosocial risks affect the effectiveness of workplace safety management, and what preventive mechanisms are most effective in reducing them? The proposed hypothesis assumes that integrating stress management strategies, developing an organizational culture that promotes employee well-being, and implementing modern technologies to monitor psychosocial factors significantly improve the level of safety in the organization, reduce operational risk, and increase employee engagement and efficiency. Findings: The analysis results indicate that effective organizational safety management requires considering psychosocial hazards on par with physical and operational risks. Work-related stress, imbalance between professional and private life, and ineffective communication can lead to increased absenteeism, decreased productivity, and heightened risk of workplace accidents. The main challenges include a lack of awareness among management about the consequences of psychosocial hazards, insufficient stress monitoring mechanisms, and difficulties in integrating well-being policies with organizational business goals. Among best practices, systematic employee training, promoting open communication, and implementing digital tools to monitor stress levels and team engagement stand out. Practical implications: The practical implications of the study provide organizations with practical recommendations for more effective management of safety in the context of psychosocial hazards. Implementing stress management programs, work-life balance policies, and developing soft skills among managers can contribute to improving employee well-being and increasing their productivity. The article also emphasizes the need for further research on the impact of new work models, including hybrid and remote work, on stress levels and their consequences for organizational safety. In particular, it is important to develop methods for assessing psychosocial risk and utilizing advanced technologies to monitor and reduce it.