ISO 45003:2021—Psychological Health and Safety at Work

Unfortunately, 84% of workers experience mental health challenges due to work. Workplaces fostering psychological health and safety, however, see higher engagement and productivity (e.g., 76% more engagement) while reducing turnover (e.g., 27% less) and stress (e.g., 74% less). As such, psychological health and safety in the workplace is critical for boosts productivity and innovation, improving employee retention and morale, creating a more resilient and engaged workforce, and assuring a safer overall work environment by encouraging the reporting of hazards. ISO 45003:2021—Occupational health and safety management – Psychological health and safety at work – Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks is a global guideline for promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace.

What Does Psychological Health and Safety Mean?

While related, feeling psychologically healthy is not the same thing as feeling psychologically safe.

Psychological health refers to an individual’s overall well-being and mental state. It encompasses a range of factors, such as emotional regulation, self-esteem, resilience, and the ability to cope with stress and adversity. For businesses, it translates to a more engaged and resilient workforce, fosters innovation, boosts decision-making, and provides a competitive advantage by improving employee retention and performance.
Psychological safety is one component of a psychologically healthy workplace, where employees feel supported and empowered to express their opinions and ideas without fear of retribution. This means individuals feel confident that they can express ideas, ask questions, raise concerns, admit mistakes, and even fail—without fear of embarrassment, punishment, or retaliation. In environments with high psychological safety, people are more likely to speak up, collaborate openly, and learn from both successes and failures.

Psychological health and safety are essential for a business to operate efficiently and effectively because without it, employees will not trust their employer, and the whole business can suffer.

What Is ISO 45003:2021?

ISO 45003:2021 gives guidelines for managing psychosocial risk within an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. This international standard enables organizations to prevent work-related injury and ill health of their workers and other interested parties as well as to promote well-being at work. It emphasizes the importance of worker participation, management commitment, and ongoing improvement for successful implementation.

ISO 45003:2021 is applicable to organizations of all sizes and in all sectors, for the development, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of healthy and safe workplaces.

What Is the ISO 45003:2021 Standard’s Relation to ISO 45001?

ISO 45003:2021 is intended to be used together with ISO 45001, which contains requirements and guidance on planning, implementing, reviewing, evaluating, and improving an OH&S management system. ISO 45001 highlights that the organization is responsible for the OH&S of workers and others who can be affected by its activities. This responsibility includes promoting and protecting their physical and psychological health.

You can learn more about ISO 45001 in our blog post: The Benefits of ISO 45001.

ISO 45003:2021: Tips for Successful of Psychological Health and Safety Management in the Workplace

ISO 45003:2021 maintains that the success of psychosocial risk management depends on commitment from all levels and functions of the organization, especially from top management. In relation to managing psychosocial risk, ISO 45003:2021 states that the organization should understand and determine the needs and expectations of workers and other interested parties. These needs and expectations can include: