And while many workplaces have a policy for unsafe behaviour, only one in four of those polled said they had used it.

The poll, by Fifty Acres x Pollinate, conducted for AAP, surveyed 1000 Australians aged 18 years and above about workplace behaviour.

The survey's major findings indicate more work is needed within workplaces to ensure females, particularly young females, are safe at work and that policies adequately address workplace risk.

The poll found that while 86 per cent of workplaces have a workplace policy for unsafe behaviour, only one in four had used it. Four in five respondents who used the policy were satisfied with it.

And almost one in 10 of those surveyed said they felt at risk of sexual assault in the workplace.

The risk of sexual assault was perceived to be twice as prevalent among those aged 18-24 years and three times higher among females than males.

Giri Sivaraman is an employment law principal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and has been working in the field for 20 years.

He says the type of sexual harassment has changed, especially as social media and mobile phone use has become more prevalent.

The MeToo movement has empowered women to speak up and Mr Sivaraman says since this started there has been an increase in the number of women coming to the firm for legal advice in regard to sexual harassment.

Mr Sivaraman told AAP several changes are needed to ensure women are not harassed in their workplaces.

"Sexual harassment laws need to be strengthened."

Complaints currently have to be made within six months and the Australian Human Rights Commission has said this period needs to be extended, he said.

"The awards for damages need to be higher to be more of a deterrent."

And more women are needed in leadership roles.

"Finally you have to have protection for people who make complaints. You can have all the policies in the world but if people who complain know they are going to be shot down for having spoken out, they will never complain," Mr Sivaraman said.

The poll found that one in three females who reported risk scenarios for women felt their issues had not been adequately addressed.

Australian Associated Press