Northern Territory seeks public input on managing psychosocial hazards at work code of practice

Northern Territory Seeks Public Input on Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice

NT WorkSafe seeks public feedback on a proposed code of practice for managing psychosocial hazards at work. Public submissions close Monday 18 December 2023, giving businesses and safety professionals a chance to shape how Northern Territory workplaces address mental health risks.

What the Proposed Code Covers

The Northern Territory workplace safety regulator says the proposed code has been amended to "include the use of the hierarchy of control measures when identifying and selecting control measures to control the risks of psychosocial hazards."

This means employers will need robust management systems capable of identifying hazards early and applying structured controls rather than relying on ad-hoc responses. For organisations across construction, healthcare and manufacturing, this shift reinforces the need for documented, risk-based approaches to psychosocial hazard management.

Why This Matters for Workplace Health and Safety

Psychosocial hazards, including excessive workloads, bullying and poor role clarity, can cause serious harm to worker health if left unmanaged. The Northern Territory's psychosocial hazard code aims to give businesses a clearer framework for prevention and early intervention.

By strengthening management obligations around risk identification, the NT code aligns with broader national trends. Northern Territory joins other states in tightening psychosocial risk regulation, following similar moves by jurisdictions updating their own management systems for workplace health and safety.

How the Code Fits Into Broader Safety Management

This proposed code is designed to serve as a primary guide for managing psychosocial hazards across Northern Territory workplaces. It complements existing work, health and safety management systems rather than replacing them, giving businesses a practical reference point for compliance planning.

Organisations already running mature safety management systems will find integration straightforward. Those without formal systems in place may need to build new processes for identifying hazards, assessing risks and monitoring control effectiveness over time.

For businesses wanting a head start, SafetyDocs offers a Psychosocial Hazards Policy template and a dedicated Psychosocial Hazards Management Plan to support compliance efforts ahead of any regulatory changes.

Sector-Specific Considerations

Psychosocial risks manifest differently across industries. In construction, isolated work arrangements and tight deadlines often heighten pressure on workers, while in healthcare, emotional demands and understaffing frequently drive fatigue-related harm.

A well-designed management system tailored to sector-specific pressures helps businesses in construction, manufacturing and healthcare respond proportionately to genuine risk levels rather than applying generic solutions across dissimilar work.

Have Your Say

The safety watchdog invites interested parties to submit comments on the proposed code before Monday 18 December 2023. Feedback gathered during consultation will directly inform the final version of the practice - managing psychosocial risks document.

Businesses and safety professionals working in construction, manufacturing or any other Northern Territory industry are encouraged to review the draft and contribute perspectives on practical implementation challenges. Safe Work Australia's parallel consultation on a proposed model code of practice offers useful context for understanding how psychosocial hazard regulation is evolving nationally.

Related Resources

• Psychosocial Hazards Management Plans — practical templates for identifying and controlling psychosocial risks
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice Update — a recent example of how codes evolve alongside management system requirements
• Silica Dust Code of Practice Update — another sector-specific code showing how hazard-specific guidance strengthens compliance outcomes

More information on the proposed code is available directly through NT WorkSafe's official consultation page.