Safe Work Australia creates new materials to mitigate risks of online harassment in the workplace

 Safe Work Australia, in collaboration with eSafety, has created useful resources for managing the risks associated with online abuse in the workplace.

“The new resources, including a downloadable poster and checklist, provide employers and workers with practical information about what online abuse in the workplace is, how to prevent it, and where to get support,” Safe Work Australia stated.

Online abuse is behaviour that uses technology to threaten, intimidate, bully, harass or humiliate.

This behaviour can occur on various online platforms, including social media, as well as through phone calls, emails, or any other technology employed in the workplace.

Online abuse has the potential to inflict emotional and physical harm, making it a genuine work health and safety concern that deserves the same level of attention as physical hazards on site.

Under the provisions of work health and safety regulations, employers carry responsibility for safeguarding the health of their workers, which involves managing risks linked to online abuse through a clear safe work method statement or workplace policy.

Businesses seeking guidance on broader hazard management may also find value in reviewing how Safe Work Australia updates model Code of Practice for managing risks of plant in the workplace, since consistent risk frameworks support stronger overall health outcomes for staff.

Similarly, organisations tackling gender-based issues on site can review how Safe Work Australia launches new tools to help mitigate risks of gender-based violence in construction, which complements this online abuse policy with practical, sector-specific information.

Learn more here.