NT WorkSafe encouraging local workplaces to prioritise safety ahead of National Safe Work Month
WorkSafe chief urges businesses to make safety the priority this month, after recent data revealed seven workers never made it home to their families in the Northern Territory last year.
Northern Territory WorkSafe is urging local businesses to build “safe and healthy workplaces” as part of National Safe Work Month this October, after new data revealed seven Territory workers died last financial year.
The year’s theme – safety: every job, every day – encourages all workplaces, regardless of occupation, industry, location and size, to prioritise safety.
The NT’s new Work Health and Safety Regulator Grant Hastie, who recently arrived from Queensland, said he encouraged workplaces to put safety first.
“All Territorians deserve to go to work and come home safely each day to enjoy the unique Territory lifestyle we have with our family and friends,” he said in a statement.
“While the lifestyle here is relaxed, it’s important we stay vigilant about health and safety in the workplace.
“The latest work health and safety statistics published by NT WorkSafe show seven work-related fatalities last financial year, with over 2600 workers’ compensation claims made.
“Getting your workplace involved can be as easy as hosting a SafeTea event at your workplace and talk about health and safety or joining one of our scheduled webinars.”
In the 2024-25 financial year, NT WorkSafe recorded four worker fatalities and three bystander fatalities.
Two were reported in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, long considered one of the NT’s most dangerous industries. These deaths were caused by “vehicle incidents”.
Another two deaths came in retail trade: one of which was the alleged murder of Nightcliff Friendly Grocer store owner Linford Feick in April.
Phillip Randel Maurice Parry, 18, allegedly stabbed Mr Feick, who was 71.
The other retail death was caused by what WorkSafe considered “other and multiple mechanism of incident”, a broad term which can include dozens of incidents.
The term essentially refers to incidents that don’t fit into the standard classifications of workplace injury or fatality mechanisms, or incidents where more than one contributing factor or mechanism led to the fatality.
For example, such incidents could include anything from deaths caused by environmental factors, to a worker being exposed to electricity and falling from a height.
A death was also reported in manufacturing and another in transport and storage; both were related to vehicle incidents.
Another death came in government administration, with WorkSafe deeming the cause as an “unspecified mechanism of incident”.
This refers to workplace fatalities or injuries where the exact cause cannot be determined due to insufficient evidence, unclear circumstances or ongoing investigations.
Overall, 2628 injury claims – which included those where the worker needed at least one week off because of their injuries – were reported Territory-wide in 2024-25, costing more than $52m in total claims and resulting in 3603 weeks of lost time.
Government Administration and Defence reported the highest per cent of serious injuries, making up 32.3 per cent of total claims.
It was followed by Health and Community Services at 10.5 per cent, Construction at 10.3 per cent, Property and Business Services at 8.6 per cent and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing at 6.6 per cent.
As for the occupations with most serious injuries, farm hands were most dangerous at 5.4 per cent, followed by truck drivers, 4.9 per cent, and prison officers, 4.2 per cent.
The main mechanisms of serious injury were being hit by moving objects, 26.2 per cent; body stressing, 23.3 per cent; and falls, trips and slips, 22.2 per cent.
Men made up 60 per cent of all claims, and women the remaining 40 per cent.
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Originally published as NT WorkSafe encouraging local workplaces to prioritise safety ahead of National Safe Work Month
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