Key 2020-21 NT Work Health and Safety statistics published

Key 2020-21 NT Work Health and Safety Statistics Published

NT's Work Health and Safety Regulator has published the 2020-21 key work health and safety statistics for the state. These statistics provide information on compensation claims made by workers in the Northern Territory, including details on workplace fatalities reported during this period, currently under investigation. Businesses seeking guidance on meeting their obligations can refer to a Work Health and Safety Manual (WHSM) for practical compliance resources.

Compensation Claims Snapshot

According to the statistics, 2392 workers compensation claims were made during this period, with 31.7% of all claims classified as serious injuries. Figures show more than 7600 weeks were lost during this period as a result of these claims.

Industries With Highest Serious Injury Rates

The 2020-21 key work health and safety statistics show that Health and Community Services, Construction, Government Administration and Defence, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, and Retail Trade were the top five industries with the highest proportion of serious injuries.

NT WorkSafe has also published key statistics for these five sectors on the statistics section of its website. Employers wanting a broader view of national trends can also read our summary of the latest NT work health and safety statistics published.

Per the data, body stressing, being hit by moving objects, and falls, trips and slips of a person were the leading causes of serious injuries across these industries.

Workplace Fatalities in the Northern Territory

Seven work-related fatalities were recorded, including four workers and three bystanders, according to NT WorkSafe information. This toll underscores the ongoing need for robust safety systems, such as a documented Work Health & Safety (WHS) Policy, to reduce preventable harm.

Workplace Death Toll Mounts in 2021

Figures from Safe Work Australia show 122 Australian workers have been killed at work so far this year, with the Transport, postal & warehousing industry leading with 41 workplace fatalities.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing comes second with 22 fatalities so far this year. Construction, with 18 work-related fatalities, comes third, according to the figures.

Fatality Breakdown by Industry

Safe Work Australia's latest figures indicate that 12 workers in the manufacturing industry have lost their lives this year, while mining has lost seven employees.

• Arts & recreation services – 5 fatalities
• Public administration & safety – 5 fatalities
• Electricity, gas, water & waste services – 3 fatalities
• Other services and Retail – 2 fatalities each
• Accommodation & food services, Administrative & support services, Education & Training, Health care & social assistance, and Wholesale trade – 1 fatality each

Per Safe Work Australia, four industries have so far recorded no fatalities. These include Rental, hiring & real estate services, Professional, scientific & technical services, Information media & telecommunications, and Financial & insurance services.

Why These Figures Matter for Safety Professionals

Tracking compensation claims and fatality figures helps technical professionals in construction, manufacturing and healthcare benchmark their own safety performance against national trends. Organisations reviewing their systems may find value comparing approaches, such as a Work Health, Safety & Environmental Management System, to strengthen incident prevention.

Readers can download the full statistics release directly from the NT WorkSafe and Safe Work Australia websites to review complete breakdowns by sector and severity.

Staying current with evolving requirements is easier when teams attend industry events. Consider visiting the Workplace Health and Safety Show for practical insight, or explore ongoing awareness initiatives through the World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2023 Promotion.

For organisations wanting deeper context on how these figures compare over time, our related coverage of the latest key NT occupational health and safety stats published and the Comcare 2023 Work Health and Safety Year in Review Report offers further comparative statistics and workplace safety resources.