Proposed amendments set out a framework for employers to identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards
WorkSafeBC is seeking public feedback on a proposed new section of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation covering psychological health and safety, which could help establish new, enforceable obligations for managing psychological hazards in British Columbia workplaces.
WorkSafeBC's Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on sections relating to psychological health and safety in the proposed new Part 4.1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, titled Psychological Health and Safety, Harassment and Violence.
The proposed new Part 4.1 establishes a set of requirements for employers to identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards.
The proposed amendments:
- Define psychosocial hazard to mean a workplace or work-related hazard that could expose a worker to the risk of psychological injury.
- Set out a framework for employers to identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards, and require employers to review and modify control measures to ensure they continue to be effective.
- Set out requirements for when the employer must consult with workers in the workplace, and the applicable workplace representative.
- Introduce requirements for employers to educate, train, and provide information to workers on psychosocial hazards that are relevant to the workplace and the worker’s tasks and be specific to the conditions of the workplace and activities that take place in the workplace.
The consultation process "gives stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing," according to the government body.
Feedback is "carefully considered and analyzed," WorkSafeBC said, and provided to its Board of Directors as part of the decision-making process.
Proposed deletions in the amendment package are marked with a strikethrough, and additions are highlighted in bold, according to WorkSafeBC.
Stakeholders can submit their feedback until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.
A previous B.C. Supreme Court decision narrowed the “labour relations exclusion” in the province’s Workers Compensation Act (WCA), potentially paving the way for more workers to succeed in psychological injury claims.
How can you submit your feedback?
WorkSafeBC is accepting feedback through an online form, email, or mail. The online form allows up to three attachments, but WorkSafeBC noted that "once you click the 'submit' button at the bottom of the form you cannot access it again to make additional comments." The agency advised drafting comments in advance before pasting them in.
Feedback can also go by email to [email protected], or by mail to the Policy, Regulation and Research Department, WorkSafeBC, P.O. Box 5350 Station Terminal, Vancouver, B.C., V6B 5L5.
Submissions should include:
- the commenter's name;
- whether they are submitting individually or for an organization,
- and its name if applicable;
- whether they are writing as a worker, employer, or other party such as a professional association;
- a general level of support — agree, neutral, or disagree;
- and the reasons for that position, with the specific section numbers addressed.
Response and acknowledgement
WorkSafeBC said it will send "an acknowledgement of receipt of your feedback" for every submission. However, WorkSafeBC said, "unless clarification is needed, we will not contact you about the contents of your submission." Organizations wanting their concerns addressed directly, rather than simply logged, need to make their reasoning and requested changes explicit within the initial submission.
All comments become part of the Policy, Regulation and Research Department's database and may be published, WorkSafeBC said, including the identity of organizations and those participating on their behalf.
The identity of those commenting on their own behalf will be kept confidential under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, according to WorkSafeBC. Organizations submitting under their own name should expect no equivalent confidentiality.
WorkSafeBC also noted that "publication by WorkSafeBC does not mean WorkSafeBC endorses the view(s) of the person making the submission."
In 2024, there were 7,258 new psychological injury-only claims reported to WorkSafeBC. Also, there were 2,437 accepted by the agency.
