Territorians invited to engage in National Safe Work Month activities

Territorians Invited to Engage in National Safe Work Month Activities

Northern Territory's Work Health and Safety Regulator Peggy Cheong urges all Territorians and organisations across the region to participate in National Safe Work Month and renew commitment toward enhancing workplace safety. This annual event gives Territory businesses a genuine opportunity to strengthen safety management practices before incidents occur.

"Last week's release of the Key Work Health and Safety Statistics by Safe Work Australia showed 200 Australian workers were fatally injured at work in 2023."

"Five of those workers were killed in the Northern Territory and the national figure last year was slightly higher than 2022," Ms Cheong said.

Fatality Rates Highlight Urgent Need for Safety Management

Ms Cheong noted the fatality rate in the Territory remains the highest in Australia, standing at 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers, contrasted against a national average of 1.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers. Sectors involving construction work, hazardous plant operation, and heavy equipment use face particularly elevated risk profiles requiring robust safety management systems.

"A lot more can be done by Territory organisations and employees to address workplace safety, and a perfect starting point is during National Safe Work Month," Ms Cheong said.

Building Stronger Safety Management Across Territory Workplaces

Effective safety management extends beyond compliance paperwork — it requires genuine cultural commitment. Territory businesses engaging with this event can use the occasion to review how equipment maintenance schedules, hazardous substance handling, and site inductions align with current WHS obligations.

Practical steps organisations might consider include:

• Reviewing risk management plans for hazardous tasks and construction sites
• Inspecting equipment for wear, faults, or overdue servicing
• Consulting employees on safety concerns specific to their roles
• Refreshing safe work method statements for high-risk construction activities

Organisations seeking structured resources to support their safety management efforts during this event may find value in reviewing documentation such as the Rigging Safe Work Procedure, particularly relevant for sites where hazardous lifting equipment is used.

For further guidance on participating in this year's initiatives, businesses can review the National Safe Work Month 2025 Terms & Conditions or explore available National Safe Work Month 2025 offers designed to support improved safety management outcomes.

Territory organisations wanting a broader view of how safety management themes have developed can also revisit earlier coverage, including Week 2 of National Safe Work Month and Week 1 of National Safe Work Month, alongside similar state-based initiatives like workplaces urged to participate in SafeWork SA activities.

National Safe Work Month 2023 Promotion materials and the National Safe Work Month 2024 Terms & Conditions remain useful references for organisations tracking how safety management priorities have shifted year over year.

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