The Northern Territory's work safety watchdog has issued a warning about septic tanks on business premises, after the second child in eight months fell into an unsecured tank.
NT Worksafe said a young child had to be rescued from a tank at a business in the Barkly region last week.
"A four-old-child fell though an unsecured lid into a full septic tank after using the establishment's communal toilets," the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The parent's child witnessed the incident and was able to rescue their child."
The watchdog said a 18-month-old baby was also rescued after falling "head first" through an unsecured lid into a tank at a business in Katherine late last year, before being rescued by an older sibling.
In the statement, NT Worksafe said it had not yet decided if either of the businesses would be penalised over the incidents.
"Inquiries are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident[s] and the appropriate regulatory response."
The watchdog said "confined spaces" rules under work health and safety laws applied to septic tanks on business premises.
"Unfortunately incidents of young children dying after falling into septic tanks have been reported in Australia and around the world."
The agency said it "strongly urged" businesses to ensure septic tank lids on their property were properly maintained, and that there was limited access.
