Assessing the psychosocial work environment in British Columbia to inform prevention activities

Reasons for the study

WorkSafeBC is in the initial stages of developing and implementing an Enterprise Mental Health Strategy. As part of the development of this strategy, it is important to collect information on knowledge gaps relevant to future activities set out in the strategy. One of these knowledge gaps is the understanding of the psychosocial work environment among workers in British Columbia. This project will address this gap in knowledge as well as provide an important baseline assessment of both the psychosocial work environment and awareness of the psychosocial work environment as a workplace hazard. This will be important as WorkSafeBC monitors the impact of the Mental Health Strategy activities moving forward.

Objectives of the study

  • Assess psychosocial conditions among workers in BC, using the psychosocial safety climate instrument PSC-12.
  • Explore the relationship between psychosocial conditions, as measured by the PSC-12, and demographic, occupational and workplace characteristics.
  • Understand the relationships between the PSC-12 and the physical work environment as assessed by the OHS vulnerability index.
  • Estimate how psychosocial and physical environments are associated with both awareness of the psychosocial work environment, and with both physical and psychological work-related injury outcomes.

Project status

Ongoing

Research team

Collaborators and partners

WorkSafeBC

Funded by

Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), WorkSafeBC