The National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace is a voluntary standard for employers, developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the federal government.
Its purpose is to help employers to better understand what they need to do to help employees who may be suffering from mental health issues, while also promoting a psychologically safe and healthy work environment, explains Elizabeth Rankin, project manager with the Canadian Standards Association Occupational Health and Safety Program.
“There’s an aspect of prevention and an aspect of promotion,” she says. “It’s intended to help guide employers, but also to help give employees access to services that they need to have as well.”
Rankin says there are three requirements for adherence to the standard. Employers are to:
- identify potential hazards that could lead to psychological harm;
- eliminate those hazards (where they can); and
- where hazards can’t be eliminated, carry out a risk assessment and put appropriate controls in place, such as training supervisors and raising awareness among employees.
The standards also provide guidance on what employers can do in the case of a crisis. “Often when a crisis erupts, they don’t know what to do or where to turn,” says Rankin.
A 60-day public review of the standards took place in the fall of 2011. Feedback from that review will go towards finalizing the standards, which is expected for later this year.
“Not only does the committee develop the standard, but we put it out for public review so everyone gets their voice in on what they would like to see in this standard,” says Rankin. “And that’s what really makes it a truly national standard.”
Watch the video to learn more about the standard.