THE landscape of workplace safety is undergoing a fundamental global shift, moving beyond physical hazards to confront the growing complexities of psychological wellbeing.
While officiating at the opening of the Fiji OHS Conference at the Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa on Friday, Australian Institute of Health and Safety Board chair Celia Antonovsky said mental health was no longer a peripheral concern but a central pillar of productivity.
Ms Antonovsky commended the Fiji National University’s National Training and Productivity Centre for convening the timely dialogue and that the leadership shown in gathering diverse stakeholders reflected a clear commitment to advancing occupational health and safety across the greater Pacific.
“Around the world there has been a significant shift in how we understand workplace health and safety,” she said.
Ms Antonovsky said global attention was increasingly directed toward psychosocial risks the specific aspects of work design, organisation, and management that possess the potential to cause psychological harm.
She maintained that these legislative developments were not occurring in isolation but reflected a broader international acknowledgement that mental health was integral to overall workplace health and productivity.
“Psychosocial wellbeing is no longer on the peripheral. It is central to building resilience in our workforces who are capable of navigating change, uncertainty and increasing demands.”
