The Australian economy bears a cost of about $60 billion per year as a result of inaction on workplace wellbeing, with nearly $13 billion of that due to poor mental health*. AMPC is looking for plants to participate in two initiatives designed to help create industry-wide tools and programs for improved worker wellbeing and to address psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
Our wellbeing research into the red meat industry began in 2022 by analysing wellbeing data from 700 employees in the red meat processing industry. Phase two of the project is now about to launch.
AMPC Program Manager People and Culture Amanda Carter says the second phase of the project will seek to develop and implement a set of resources that are fit-for-wellbeing across the processing industry.
“The first phase of the program found some common threads, including a need to focus on reducing smoking, healthier eating and drinking, and better mental wellbeing. At the same time, it found that every plant has individual needs. Based on these insights, the second phase will include development of wellbeing resources at an industry-wide and at plant level, with resources delivered through different models and tested at pilot plants.”
In addition to the second phase of the wellbeing program, AMPC is seeking participants for a study on the best ways to manage psychosocial risks in the workplace.
“Psychosocial risk factors include things like bullying and high workload,” Amanda says. “Workplaces in Australia have a legal obligation to provide a physically and mentally safe workplace to their employees. Psychosocial risk factors must be identified and managed. Our project will seek to better understand the psychosocial risk profile in the red meat processing industry, so that we can develop tools to help plants manage those risks, meet their obligations, and maintain a healthy and productive workforce.”
Each plant will get an individualised report on its risk profile across 14 key areas. The findings will then be used to develop a generic report for industry.
Five plants are being sought to participate in the wellbeing phase 2 program, and 15 plants are needed for the psychosocial risk research. For more information, contact Amanda Carter at a.carter@ampc.com.au