Vicarious Trauma & Trauma Exposure SWMS
Vicarious trauma prevention and management for workers exposed to traumatic material — emergency services, social work, health, legal, and counselling sector roles.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Vicarious trauma arises when workers are repeatedly exposed to traumatic material, victim accounts, or distressing imagery in emergency services, health, social work, legal, and counselling roles. PCBUs must eliminate or minimise this psychosocial hazard under WHS Act 2011 s.19 and the Managing Psychosocial Hazards Code of Practice 2022.
Hazards identified
3 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
PTSD, secondary traumatic stress, depression
Compassion fatigue, burnout, attrition
Emotional exhaustion, impaired judgement, errors
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Rotate and cap trauma caseloads; diversify work to limit cumulative exposure intensity per worker.
- 2Mandate structured clinical supervision, debriefing, and confidential EAP access for all trauma-exposed roles.
- 3Train workers and managers in trauma-informed practice, early warning signs, and self-referral pathways.
Applicable Codes of Practice
Direct guidance on identifying and controlling vicarious trauma.
Psychological health duty extends to trauma-exposed workers.
What you receive
- ✓Editable DOCX SWMS tailored to trauma-exposed roles
- ✓State-specific WHS legislation schedule including Comcare jurisdiction
- ✓Vicarious trauma hazard register with psychosocial risk ratings
- ✓Worker sign-on register confirming consultation and understanding
Related legislation
- WHS Act 2011 s.19 — Primary duty of care
- WHS Regulations 2025 — psychosocial risk management
- Safe Work Australia Managing Psychosocial Hazards COP 2022