WHS (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT)
Sets the primary duty of care, with health including psychological health.
Northern Territory · Employer guide
Psychosocial hazards in the workplace NT
Safer work starts with your people.
What Northern Territory law requires — and how to protect your people.
Understand your obligations
What are the rules in Northern Territory?
Quick answer
In the Northern Territory, psychosocial hazards in the workplace are managed under the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 and its regulations. Amendments from 1 July 2023 made the duty to manage psychosocial risks explicit, including applying the hierarchy of controls. The NT Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice was approved in May 2024. NT WorkSafe is the regulator.
The legal framework
The laws that apply in NT
Key milestones
How we got here
1 Jul 2023
Psychosocial amendments to the NT WHS regulations commence.
23 May 2024
NT psychosocial and harassment Codes of Practice approved.
Ongoing
NT WorkSafe provides guidance and compliance activity.
Recognise the risk
Common psychosocial hazards in Northern Territory workplaces
Hazards rarely appear alone — they stack, and the combined effect drives harm.
Local context matters
What's different in NT?
Workers' accommodation counts
When choosing controls, NT employers must consider workplace conditions including any workers' accommodation, which matters for remote sites and camps.
Hierarchy of controls applies
Elimination comes first. Training or awareness alone will not be enough where higher-order controls are reasonably practicable.
Remote and isolated work
Long distances, small teams and limited services make remote work, fatigue and poor support key risks to check.
People, not paperwork
How Northern Territory employers can manage psychosocial risk
Flourish360 helps people become better humans at work — and gives you the evidence trail to show your risk management in action.
Consult with your people at every stage.
A simple, engaging approach to psychosocial risk management.
Jurisdictions
How many psychosocial hazards are there in Australia?
It depends on which WHS laws cover your workplace: 14 under the national model, 16 in Victoria and 17 for Commonwealth workplaces under Comcare. None of the lists is exhaustive — they're a starting point.
14
Model WHS laws
Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice names 14 common psychosocial hazards — the baseline most states and territories work from.
16
Victoria
WorkSafe Victoria's Psychological health compliance code gives 16 examples of psychosocial hazards under Victoria's own OHS laws.
17
Commonwealth (Comcare)
Commonwealth workplaces under Comcare work with 17, adding fatigue, job insecurity and intrusive surveillance such as digital tracking.
Sources: Safe Work Australia's model Code of Practice, WorkSafe Victoria's Psychological Health Compliance Code and Comcare's psychosocial hazards guidance. See the full hazard list
Your questions, answered
FAQs: psychosocial hazards in the Northern Territory
When did NT psychosocial regulations start?
Amendments to the NT WHS regulations covering psychosocial risks commenced on 1 July 2023.
Does the NT have a psychosocial Code of Practice?
Yes. The NT Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work Code of Practice was approved on 23 May 2024.
Who regulates psychosocial hazards in the NT?
NT WorkSafe administers workplace health and safety laws in the Northern Territory.
Source: NT WorkSafe. General information only, not legal advice.
Better humans. Safer workplaces.