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The outcome: Verifiable psychosocial risk processes, delivered simply
With legislative obligations to consult with workers on psychosocial hazards, Watco and Intermodal Group (IMG) needed a solution that delivered actionable insights without disrupting operations or exhausting internal resources. Within 21 days, Watco completed a full psychosocial risk assessment covering key departments at a fraction of the cost and effort of traditional methods.
- Time to completion: Design, delivery, assessment, and control recommendations, completed within 4 weeks
- Costs contained: Avoided consultant led and lengthy diagnostic projects, estimated to be 4x more expensive
- Appropriate consultation for blue collar staff: 2 minute survey delivered via mobile. High number of controls suggested by staff to support the action plan
- Board ready reporting: Output included a department-level risk assessment and control recommendations, aligned to regulatory expectations
“We needed something simple, effective and scalable. Skodel helped us meet our obligations in a way that worked for the workforce and the board.”
— Chris McGrath, Psychosocial Safety Lead, Watco
The Challenge: Dispersed workforce, complex operations, limited time
Watco operates in a logistics-heavy, high-risk environment where consultation is both a regulatory requirement and a practical challenge.
- Dispersed frontline staff
- Limited computer access
- Potential skepticism towards mental health based initiatives
Traditional approaches to consultation, such as consultant-run focus groups or 20-minute+ surveys, risked low engagement, high cost and operational disruption.
The team was evaluating options but struggled to find one that could:
- Be deployed rapidly across departments and job types
- Collect meaningful data tied to specific psychosocial hazards
- Map risks and controls in a structured, defensible way for internal and external review
Simple for staff. Robust for leadership.
Watco selected Skodel because it struck the right balance:
✅ 2-minute survey aligned to regulatory codes and 17 hazards
✅ Ability to trigger reminders to incompletes to support participation
✅ Automated risk assessments at organisation and department levels
✅ Staff input on control measures to reduce or eliminate risks captured
✅ Export-ready reporting for executive and board review
✅ Simple review process as required to ensure up to date and verifiable processes
ROI: Simpler, resource efficient, regulator aligned
The return on investment wasn’t just financial, it was operational. By using Skodel, Watco avoided:
- Weeks of internal work designing and delivering surveys
- Costly consultant-led sessions with variable output
- Complexity in aligning results to model codes of practice
- Added load on internal safety and HR teams
Instead, they got:
- A risk assessment aligned to Model Code of Practice delivered efficiently
- Meaningful input from staff on controls, without survey fatigue
- A repeatable process to demonstrate ongoing consultation and compliance
We needed a tool to assess risk simply and objectively. Skodel allowed us to meet our legislative obligations without bogging down the business. It has enabled the board to make informed decisions with confidence”
— Chris McGrath, Psychosocial Safety Lead, Watco
People experience
Contact Skodel
Thank you for reading. If you are looking to start the journey or streamline existing processes for psychosocial hazard management, reach out for a discussion.
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