2020-21 Key NT work health and safety statistics

Key injury claims information

This infographic shows there were a total of 2392 workers' compensation claims in the Northern Territory for the year 2020-21. 31.7% of of all Territory claims were for serious injuries. 87.4% of all Territory workers compensation claims were accepted by the insurer (as at 18 October 2021).

This infographic shows the total workers compensation claims resulted in 7612 total lost time in weeks and $41,732,811 was paid in benefits.

  • Claims where the worker needed at least one week of due to their injuries are considered serious injuries.

Injury claims by age and gender

The image shows two bar graphs detailing injury claims by age and gender. In the age graph, 12% of injuries occurred in workers under 25, and 35.7% of injured workers in that age bracket were seriously injured. 24.2% of injuries occurred in the 25 to 34 age bracket, and 34.7% of injured workers in that age bracket were seriously injured. 19.1% of injuries occurred in the 35 to 44 age bracket, and 34.2% of injured workers in that age bracket were seriously injured. 20.9% of injuries occurred in the 45 to 54 age bracket, and 27% of injured workers in that age bracket were seriously injured. 18.6% of injuries occurred in the 55 to 64 age bracket, and 28.6% of injured workers in that age bracket were seriously injured. 5.3% of injuries occurred in the 65+ age bracket, and 29.1% of injured workers in that age bracket were seriously injured. In the gender graph, 63.8% of injured workers were male, 32.3% seriously injured, and 36.2% of injured workers were female, with 30.6% serious injured.

Injury claims by all industries

This bar graph shows the breakdown of workers compensation claims by Industry Groups. Accommodation, cafes and restaurants accounted for 5.2% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 29.8% of those claims for a serious injury. Agriculture forestry & fishing accounted for 8.8% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 38.9% of those claims for a serious injury. Communications services 0.04% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with no serious injury claims. Construction accounted for 12.3% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 34.6% of those claims for a serious injury. Cultural and recreational services accounted for 2.8% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 35.3% of those claims for a serious injury. Education accounted for 8.2% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 17.9% of those claims for a serious injury. Electricity, gas and water supply accounted for 0.8% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 38.9% of those claims for a serious injury. Finance and insurance accounted for 0.2% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 50% of those claims for a serious injury. Government administration and defence accounted for 11.7% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 29.2% of those claims for a serious injury. Health and community services accounted for 13.8% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 37.7% of those claims for a serious injury. Manufacturing accounted for 4.1% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 35.1% of those claims for a serious injury. Mining accounted for 3.5% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 20.2% of those claims for a serious injury. Personal and other services accounted for 5.2% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 20.2% of those claims for a serious injury. Property and business services accounted for 7.8% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 31% of those claims for a serious injury. Retail trade accounted for 7.7% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 38.3% of those claims for a serious injury. Transport and storage accounted for 4.9% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 36.8% of those claims for a serious injury. Wholesale trade accounted for 3.1% of all Territory workers compensation claims, with 21.9% of those claims for a serious injury.

Main industries by serious injury

This infographic shows the top five industries with the highest proportion of serious injury claims. 16.4% of all serious claims were made in Health and community services. 13.5% of all serious claims were made in Construction. 10.8% of all serious claims were made in Government administration and defence. Agriculture forestry & fishing also accounted for 10.8% of the Territory's serious injury claims, and 9.2% of all serious claims were made in Retail trade.

Main occupations seriously injured

This infographic shows the main occupations by serious injury claims. 9% of all Territory serious injury claims were made by farm hands, followed by 4.6% made by truck drivers, and 4.1% by Construction and Plumbers Assistants, as well as Welfare and Community Workers (also 4.1%).

Main mechanisms of serious injury

This infographic shows the main three mechanisms for serious injuries were 26.1% body stressing; 23.9% Being hit by moving objects; and 21.4% falls, trips and slips of a person.

Main injury groups for serious injuries

This infographic shows the main three injury groups for serious injuries were 39.4% Traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injury; 17.7% Wounds, lacerations; amputations and internal organ damage; and 13.3% Fractures.

Explanatory notes

Workers’ Compensation Claims from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. Preliminary data subject to revision in subsequent years as claims are finalised.

  • Statistics are based on data gathered from workers compensation on claims.
  • Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial classification (ANZSIC) 1993 used to identify industry sectors.
  • Type of occurrence classification system (TOOCS) 3.1 used to identify mechanisms of injury.
  • Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) 2nd edition used to identify occupations.
  • Claims where the worker needed at least one week off due to their injuries are considered serious injuries.

Work-related fatalities

This infographic shows there were seven work-related fatalities in 2020-21.

  • In 2020-21, there were 4 worker fatalities and 3 fatalities classified as a bystander. A bystander is a person killed as a result of someone else’s work activity, while not engaged in a work activity of their own.
  • The 2020-21 fatalities are currently under investigation. During the course of an investigation, a fatality may be determined as not work-related and the above figure will be adjusted accordingly during the next update.

* Please note this figure only includes work-related fatalities investigated by NT WorkSafe. Some fatalities in the Northern Territory may fall in the jurisdiction of other national agencies.

Work-related fatalities by industry

This infographic shows two work-related fatalities occurred in Agriculture forestry & fishing; one work-related fatality occurred in Construction; one work-related fatality occurred in Cultural and Recreational Services; one work-related fatality occurred in  Electricity, gas and water supply; one work-related fatality occurred in Health and Community Services; and one work-related fatality occurred in Manufacturing.

Work-related fatalities by mechanism of injury

This bar graph shows the work-related fatalities by mechanism of injury. One work-related fatality involved being hit by moving object; one work-related fatality involved being trapped by moving machinery or equipment; one work-related fatality involved contact with electricity; one work-related fatality involved drowning; two work-related fatalities involved falls from a height; and one work-related fatality involved a vehicle incident.

 

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