NSW workers encouraged to promote a culture of asking R U OK? on daily basis

SafeWork NSW is urging businesses and workers to build a genuine R U OK? culture on a daily basis, rather than treating it as a once-a-year event, in order to promote mentally safe and healthy workplace environments.

The NSW workplace safety regulator believes addressing psychosocial hazards like heavy workloads, trauma exposure, bullying, and harassment leads to a more productive, happier workforce whose health benefits everyone involved. Under provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, businesses carry a legal obligation to address and manage hazards and risks that could affect physical and mental health and safety of workers on site, making safe work method statements just one part of a broader care framework.

Why a Daily R U OK? Culture Matters for Workplace Safety

Building regular check-ins into everyday operations helps workers feel supported long before a crisis emerges. A shared moment of genuine conversation can open doors to support services that many employees never knew existed.

According to Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin, prioritising psychological health and safety should not be seen as a one-time task or simply a legal requirement, but as a moral responsibility that businesses owe their people.

Practical Steps to Ask R U OK?

• Create consistent opportunities for staff to check in on colleagues, not just during designated awareness days
• Provide access to mental health resources and support services across all levels of the organisation
• Train supervisors to recognise signs of distress and respond with care
• Encourage open conversation about workloads, trauma exposure, and other psychosocial hazards

Businesses that embed these practices into daily routines, alongside strong site management tools such as a daily sign-in register or a construction site inspection daily checklist, demonstrate that safety extends beyond physical hazards to encompass mental health as well.

Supporting Resources and Services

Workers seeking additional support can access a range of health services and resources designed to strengthen wellbeing across industries. SafeWork NSW continues to remind employers that fostering this culture requires ongoing commitment rather than isolated gestures.

Regular workplace incidents, including recent cases such as five workers killed in NSW in four days, highlight how critical it becomes to prioritise both physical and psychological safety together. Ongoing consultation efforts, like those aimed at improving conditions for silica workers across NSW, further reinforce this broader commitment to worker care.

For businesses navigating compliance changes, staying informed through updates like the NSW workers compensation exposure draft ensures support services align with current legal requirements.

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