Any event that exposes someone to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence has the potential to be traumatic. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition where fear, anxiety and memories of a traumatic event persist and interfere with how a person copes with everyday life.

It is important to note that PTSD does not describe the full range of reactions people may have to a potentially traumatic event. Someone can be ‘traumatised’ by events, but their particular difficulties may not fulfil the criteria for PTSD.

If someone is exposed to a potentially traumatic event in the context of their work, any resulting diagnosis of PTSD could be considered a workplace injury.