The dollar amount increased by 50 per cent in the 12 months to December 2021, while the proportion of psychological claims compared with physical injury increased from 18 per cent to 24 per cent.

The Tasmanian Risk Management Fund - which manages government insurance liabilities - described the "extent and speed" of the increase as "highly unusual" in a recent assessment released under Right to Information.

It prompted the government to provide the fund with an additional $105 million after the assessment highlighted a $111 million budget shortfall to cover the claims - a figure which was anticipated to significantly grow as a result of the recent surge.

There were 217 psychological injury claims in the six months from July to December 2021, compared with the three-year average of 140 claims per six months.

The TRMF suggested some of the increase could be attributed to the presumption that PTSD is work-related, and the removal of step downs for police officers. It also pointed out that other states were seeing similar growth in psychological claims, although Tasmania was above average.

Community and Public Sector Union Tasmania secretary Thirza White said the figures reflected what the union was hearing from its members.

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"There are a lot of jobs across the public sector where exposure to vicarious trauma is a risk: prisons, child safety, social workers in schools," she said.

"Psychological risks in the workplace are largely unmanaged and we're seeing an increase in the number of people taking workplace compensation due to burnout, vicarious trauma and other issues.

"This is due to increasing demand on workers and huge difficulties in recruiting staff to positions that leads to burnout and fatigue."

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Sixteen public sector enterprise agreements are due to be negotiated, and Ms White said the government should offer improved psychological support for workers, additional leave to manage risks and remuneration that can help address workforce shortages.

Psychological injury claims are $153,000 on average, compared with $24,000 for physical injury.

The $105 million was included in supplementary funding was approved earlier this year, which the government described as meeting "historic liabilities" for workplace compensation.

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In a statement, the government said it had introduced health and wellbeing programs for preventative and intervention measures for emergency service employees and volunteers.

"We realise that emergency service workers are susceptible for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health illnesses. As a Government we have worked hard to create an environment that supports our emergency service workers to come forward and seek the help that they need," the statement reads.

"This is why we have introduced presumptive PTSD legislation for state service employees and removed step down provisions for police officers."

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