Dr. Daniels has authored a new book, “Psychosocial Hazards Are Real!”
Psychosocial Hazards Are Real! is one of the first books ever written that goes beyond the vital focus on psychological safety to discuss the critical impact of psychosocial hazards on psychological and physical health and safety.
My name is I. David Daniels, the author of Psychosocial Hazards Are Real! I wrote this book because I discovered that conversation about psychological safety, while essential, is insufficient without a focus on one of the root causes of work-related stress, the existence of unidentified, unassessed, and unmitigated psychosocial hazards. I have come to realize through my own experiences and the experiences of others that psychological injuries can have just as significant an impact on organizations and individuals, as the physical ones that are the focus of much of the efforts around health and safety.
Creating an international standard for psychological health and safety has provided a common language to discuss the topic, and establishes a list of 88 psychosocial hazards that emerge from the work environment, how work is designed, and the social interactions in the workplace. This book details how to identify psychosocial hazards, gives examples, discusses the impact, and provides potential strategies to address these hazards.
In reading this book, I anticipate you will discover a deeper understanding of the fundamental sources of psychosocial hazards, a greater awareness of psychosocial hazards that you may be exposed to, and strategies to address these hazards based on not only solid research but on my lived experience, as well as the experiences of others including some of my guests on the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast. I hope the book stimulates the same sort of passion and excitement that I have for psychological health and safety in general and psychosocial hazards specifically.
Ultimately, I want you to see this book as a tool to help you take the practical steps necessary to address recruitment, retention, and psychological and physical safety for top-notch, diverse talent in organizations of all sizes. In this book, you’ll learn about the differences and similarities between being safe and feeling safe, the psychosocial hazards that exist in everyday life, and the ways that recognition can lead to simple strategies to minimize the potential for harm in the workplace:
Safety is an activity that should achieve the feeling of being safe.
A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm.
The international standard organizes 88 psychosocial hazards into three sources, and this book describes each.
You will love this book if you want to understand the root organizational causes of work-related stress, interpersonal conflict, and the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion, even in an organization with a genuine desire to do so. While safety professionals will undoubtedly recognize many of the terms in this book, those in other occupations, including human resources, mental health, and other professionals and lay people alike, will recognize these hazards, the implications for those exposed, and strategies to address them. Psychosocial Hazards Are Real! is a nonfiction book that speaks to safety professionals, human resource professionals, total worker health practitioners, and leaders in organizations looking at psychological health safety and psychosocial hazards specifically for the first time.
