Exposure to work-related psychosocial hazards is projected to become a major occupational health and safety threat, with significant implications for workers, businesses, and the national economy. These hazards are on the verge of surpassing many other occupational hazards in their contribution to ill-health; injury; disability; direct and indirect costs; and impact on business and national productivity. The risks associated with exposure to psychosocial hazards at work are compounded by the increasing background prevalence of mental health disorders in the working-age population. According to a manuscript published in the June 2024 issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, extensive and cumulative impacts of these exposures represent an alarming public health problem that merits immediate, increased attention. A threat is envisioned that may affect many of the 169.6 million U.S. workers by 2030 and result in adverse mental and physical health, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and disability.
Given the growing evidence of the connections between work and health outcomes, there is a pressing need to prevent work-related psychosocial hazards and the adverse cognitive, emotional, behavioral, physiological, and economic effects associated with them. The paper described in that journal is a commentary on the critical national problem of exposure to psychosocial hazards and resultant adverse effects. The authors review the linkage between work-related psychosocial hazards and adverse effects, their economic burden, and interventions to prevent and control these hazards. They identify six crucial societal actions: (1) increase awareness of this critical issue through a comprehensive public campaign; (2) increase etiologic, intervention, and implementation research; (3) initiate or augment surveillance efforts; (4) increase translation of research findings into guidance for employers and workers; (5) increase the number and diversity of professionals skilled in preventing and addressing psychosocial hazards; and (6) develop a national regulatory or consensus standard to prevent and control work-related psychosocial hazards. A conclusion reached in this investigation is that when done comprehensively, preventing and addressing work-related psychosocial hazards will help protect workers and promote work as a means to achieving greater health and well-being for all.