October Safe Work Month; the start of a Territory wide push for safer workplaces

October is National Safe Work Month, an opportunity for Territory businesses and workers to focus on improving safety in the workplace. The 2021 national theme is Think Safe. Work Safe. Be Safe.

The focus of this year’s Northern Territory events is the launch of the NT WorkSafe Strategic Plan 2021-2026. The strategic plan will guide NT WorkSafe’s activities for the next five years, with the aim of improving work health and safety outcomes across the Northern Territory.

The strategic plan has identified five priority industries and four priority risks that account for the majority of serious injuries and fatalities that occur in the Northern Territory.

Almost 60% of the NT’s serious injuries have occurred in the Construction (14.3%); Health and Community Services (14%); Government Administration and Defence (10.5%); Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (10.3%); and Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants (7.8%) industry divisions.

Over 80% of the Northern Territory’s serious injuries were a result of body stressing (29.1%); being hit by a moving object (28.6%); falls, slips and trips of a person (23.2%); and contact with electricity (1.9%).

The Strategic Plan allows NT WorkSafe to focus education and compliance campaigns aimed at assisting businesses and industry to identify and address the risks to reduce the number of related injuries and fatalities.

A call to action has been issued to all Territory industries, especially the identified priority industries to improve on the following four focus areas:

• Safe systems of work.
• Training and capability.
• Supervision.
• Health and safety design.

Failings in one or more of the focus areas has resulted in NT WorkSafe prosecutions.

As part of National Safe Work Month, NT WorkSafe Inspectors will be visiting workplaces across the Territory to talk to businesses and workers, raising awareness and highlighting the key risks they face in their industry.

The month’s events also include free online webinars presented by subject matter experts on the topics: Body stressing; Mental health; Fall from heights; Contact with electrical; and Safe management systems.

Show your commitment to improving safety by registering for one of the free events, or organise your own workplace event during the month.

View the NT WorkSafe Strategic Plan

View the NT National Safe Work Month events