NT WorkSafe launches new resources to help businesses and employees meet ‘Positive Duty’ obligations

NT WorkSafe Launches New Resources to Help Businesses and Employees Meet 'Positive Duty' Obligations

NT WorkSafe has published new resources to assist Persons Conducting a Business and Undertaking (PCBU) in comprehending and adhering to fresh legal obligations that came into effect earlier this year following amendments to Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination laws.

These requirements are referred to as Positive Duty, and territory businesses now carry direct compliance obligations under this framework.

Why Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Are Workplace Safety Hazards

According to NT WorkSafe, both discrimination and sexual harassment are deemed hazards under work health and safety regulations, since such conduct can lead to significant physical and psychological harm.

Treating harassment as a genuine safety issue, rather than purely a workplace culture matter, reinforces why employers must build robust prevention measures into everyday operations. This approach aligns with broader efforts such as those seen when WorkSafe launches new infographics highlighting psychosocial hazards in high-risk industries, which similarly frame psychological risks alongside physical safety concerns.

What Positive Duty Requires From Employers

Positive Duty obliges PCBUs to actively engage in measures aimed at preventing and eradicating sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation across their organisations. Meeting positive duty requirements means employers can no longer wait for complaints before acting; instead, proactive steps toward safety become mandatory.

Practical steps toward meeting compliance obligations typically include:

• Reviewing and updating workplace policy documents to reflect current anti-discrimination standards
• Establishing clear reporting pathways for employees experiencing harassment or discrimination
• Communicating expectations around acceptable conduct to workers at every level
• Embedding prevention measures within existing safety management systems

An employer's guide to these obligations should form part of broader safety planning, ensuring policy commitments translate into consistent, everyday practice rather than sitting as unused paperwork.

Where to Find Further Information

Additional information regarding Positive Duty can be found on the NT WorkSafe website, offering nt business owners a starting point for reviewing their current safety policy against updated requirements.

For businesses seeking ongoing monthly support with broader workplace obligations, related safety news coverage—including Safe Work Australia's new resources to help injured employees return to work and the new online tool helping construction workers meet WHS obligations—can help employers stay current on evolving compliance expectations nationwide.

This latest safety news from NT WorkSafe introduces a timely reminder that discrimination and sexual harassment prevention sit squarely within work health and safety responsibilities, not as separate legal teams' concerns alone. Staying informed through official safety news channels remains one of the simplest ways for employers and employees to keep pace with obligations as they evolve.