Guide · updated November 2026
Psychosocial hazards in retail
Typical pressure points: Customer abuse, short-staffed shifts, opening and closing alone. These hazards usually rate higher in this industry. Start your risk register here, then cover the rest of the 14.
| Hazard | What it looks like | Controls that change the work | System controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| High or low job demands | Unrealistic workloads or deadlines, long hours, high emotional or mental effort, or work that's too little or too repetitive | Set realistic workloads and staffing levels based on actual demand; Plan rosters to cover peak periods and absences; Remove unnecessary tasks and reporting | Track hours, overtime and leave balances monthly; Agree priorities when new work is added; Cap consecutive long shifts |
| Poor physical environment | Noise, heat, cramped or unsafe spaces, poor lighting or amenities | Fix the environment: noise, temperature, lighting, space and amenities | Regular workplace inspections that include environmental stressors |
| Violence and aggression | Threats, abuse or assault by customers, clients, patients, the public or co-workers | Safe workplace design: barriers, exits, lighting, CCTV, cash limits; Adequate staffing in high-risk periods | Customer conduct policy, the right to refuse service, and incident reporting; Procedures for responding to aggression |
Remember the positive duty to prevent sexual harassment applies too, as does consultation with workers on every step.
Sources: Safe Work Australia: model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work · WorkSafe Victoria: new psychological health regulations · SafeWork NSW: legislation · WorkSafe Queensland: People at Work (free survey) · Australian Human Rights Commission: positive duty
Get your psychosocial safety system done
Take the free compliance check, then build a risk register for all 14 hazards (rated for your industry), an action plan, policies, a worker survey and a positive duty prevention plan.
Free compliance check Build my systemMore: Psychosocial risk assessment: a template that works · The 14 common psychosocial hazards, with examples and controls · NSW: the psychosocial Code became comply-or-justify on 1 July 2026 · Victoria's Psychological Health Regulations: what employers must do · Queensland's psychosocial hazards Code: employer checklist · The positive duty to prevent sexual harassment: a small business guide · Bullying and harassment policy: what to include · Psychosocial hazards in office / professional services · Psychosocial hazards in hospitality · Psychosocial hazards in construction / trades