Russia will introduce GOST R ISO 45003-2026, a national standard on psychological health and psychosocial risk management at work, starting February 1, 2027. Certification expert Alexei Tyulpin told RT that the standard asks employers to assess how factors such as workload, shift changes, conflicting instructions, unclear division of duties, conflicts, bullying, isolation and abuse of authority affect employees' health.
Tyulpin said employers are advised to regularly discuss workplace safety with staff, gather feedback, review tasks and job functions, assign responsibility in advance, and take action when risks are identified.
Voluntary, not mandatory
Tyulpin said there is no standalone certification process for the new standard, since it offers guidance rather than requirements, though its provisions may be factored into certification of labor safety management systems under GOST R ISO 45001. He said the standard will not be mandatory for every employer, since national standards apply on a voluntary basis by law. An obligation to follow specific provisions could arise only if they are written into internal policies, contracts or corporate requirements, and no separate penalty exists for not applying the GOST.
