Notifiable incidents in the NT: NT WorkSafe and 2025 changes
Short answer
In the Northern Territory, a business reports a death, serious injury or illness, or dangerous incident to NT WorkSafe straight away. If the regulator asks, written notification is due within 48 hours of the request. NT hasn’t adopted the December 2025 national amendments, and notifiable incident records are kept for five years.
Automatically checked against NT WorkSafe on 1 Nov 2026.
What counts, and who to call
The Northern Territory applies the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act. NT WorkSafe explains the law in three parts. A notifiable incident is reported to the regulator immediately. Written notification follows within 48 hours if the regulator asks. The site is preserved until an inspector arrives or directs otherwise. NT WorkSafe also runs an advice line for businesses that are unsure. Failing to report is an offence, and penalties apply.
How NT differs from the model law
The Northern Territory applies the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act. NT WorkSafe says the Northern Territory hasn’t adopted the incident notification amendments Safe Work Australia published on 5 December 2025, so the existing triggers apply. Written notification is due within 48 hours if the regulator asks. Records of notifiable incidents are kept for at least five years from the date of notification. NT WorkSafe’s guidance also sets out which injuries do and do not count as serious.
A worked example
A subbie’s labourer on a Darwin site loses consciousness after a fall from a ladder and is admitted to hospital. The head contractor calls NT WorkSafe straight away and leaves the ladder and the area as they were. Two days later the regulator asks for the details in writing. The head contractor sends them within 48 hours of that request, using the report’s original words and photos.
How Haznote handles it
For an NT site, Haznote names NT WorkSafe on the flag. The manager confirms the classification, and reports stay on file and are never deleted, which supports the five-year record the regulator describes.
What the regulator says
Each row shows the source’s own words, who published them and when they were last checked by script.
| Item | What it says | Source and check date |
|---|---|---|
| Advice line | Contact NT WorkSafe on 1800 019 115 for further information about notifying. Source says: | NT WorkSafe Checked 1 Nov 2026 |
| Site preservation | The incident site is preserved until an inspector arrives or directs otherwise, with some exceptions. Source says: | NT WorkSafe Checked 1 Nov 2026 |
| Written notice | If the regulator asks, written notification is due within 48 hours of the request. Source says: | NT WorkSafe Checked 1 Nov 2026 |
| 2025 amendments | The Northern Territory has not adopted the incident notification amendments published by Safe Work Australia on 5 December 2025. Source says: | NT WorkSafe Checked 1 Nov 2026 |
| Record keeping | Records of notifiable incidents are kept for at least five years from the date of notification. Source says: | NT WorkSafe Checked 1 Nov 2026 |
Plain answers.
Do the 2025 model amendments apply in the NT?
NT WorkSafe says the Northern Territory has not adopted them, and its page describes the current requirements.
Is a contractor’s injury notifiable?
NT WorkSafe says notifiable incidents may relate to any person, whether an employee, contractor or member of the public.
How long are records kept?
NT WorkSafe says records of notifiable incidents are kept for at least five years from the date of notification.
Where this comes from.
- Incident notification · NT WorkSafe
General information, not legal advice. Check the current rules with NT WorkSafe.
Flag likely-notifiable reports with NT WorkSafe named. You confirm.
Run it on one site and see the first report land in the manager’s list.