Employers urged to do more to protect apprentices

WorkSafe has successfully prosecuted 66 companies in the past five years for health and safety breaches that harmed apprentices or placed them at serious risk, resulting in $7.38 million in fines, court costs and enforceable undertakings.

Sadly, nine of those prosecutions and $3.21 million in fines related to five fatal incidents.

WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said apprentices were among the most vulnerable workers in the state – the majority aged between 15 and 24 and with limited work experience.

“Most of these young workers are just starting out,” Mr Jenkin said. “Their first years on the job or in a new industry should set them up for life with good habits and strong examples of safe work practices.”

“Instead, some are being exposed to serious health and safety risks and in some cases behaviour that is downright deplorable – things no worker should ever experience.”

Young workers, including many apprentices, have the highest chance of being injured in the first six months of starting a new job, mainly due to their lack of experience and unfamiliarity with the role.

More than 3,000 injury claims have been accepted from apprentices since the start of 2021.

Falls from height accounted for 410 of those claims as well as 38 prosecutions and $2.48 million in penalties – including incidents that left apprentices with skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, traumatic brain injuries, spinal and vertebral injuries, and various fractures.

More than 50 injury claims and many of the prosecutions related to psychosocial hazards like workplace bullying and harassment or occupational violence and aggression, including: 

• A 16-year-old apprentice carpenter having a saw thrown at him and a nail penetrate his skull on the same day at a Glen Waverly building site.
• A plumbing company director driving about 15 kilometres near Mansfield with an apprentice locked in his ute’s toolbox, placing the young worker at risk of serious injury or death.
• A 20-year-old female electrical apprentice in Frankston enduring sexual harassment, gender-based violence and bullying by her company’s director.
• A first-year apprentice at a Ballarat heating and cooling company suffering daily physical and verbal abuse, including being lifted into a noose unable to breathe for a few seconds.
• An apprentice at a Tullamarine glass company being taped upside down to a crane topless and slapped by his director at a Christmas party.
• Two 17-year-old apprentices in the hospitality industry being relentlessly bullied and humiliated by their head chef – including one who was told to drink boiling oil and forced to wear a plastic bag with eye cut-outs over his head.

Mr Jenkin said it was heartbreaking that many apprentices in these cases were initially too afraid to report the abuse or felt they had no choice but to resign.

“When you’re young and new to an industry, it can be really daunting to speak up – especially when the person you’d be reporting is your boss or someone you rely on for career progression.”

“That’s why it is crucial employers build workplace cultures where safety and respect are non-negotiable and apprentices know they’ll be heard, supported and protected.”

WorkSafe shares information and intelligence with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA), which has banned more than 100 companies from employing apprentices in the past five years – 40 percent of which were due to health and safety reasons.

“An employer’s obligation to ensure the safety of their apprentices and trainees is non-negotiable and the VRQA won’t hesitate to take action when they fail to do so,” said VRQA CEO Stefanie Veal.

“The information shared between WorkSafe and the VRQA is essential to ensuring we can safeguard Victoria’s apprentices and trainees from both physical and psychological harm.”

While apprentices are employed across a range of Victorian industries including manufacturing, sports and recreation, wholesale and retail trade – the construction industry made up 61 per cent of the injury claims and almost 70 per cent of WorkSafe’s prosecutions.

Mr Jenkin said while young workers brought a range of benefits to workplaces – including innovation, new skills and future talent – they often also needed extra support.

“Apprentices shouldn’t be left to figure out safety on their own when they’re new to the workforce and might not even know what safe practices look like.”

“Whether it’s falls from height, bullying, working alone or even setting up safe systems of work – we have an abundance of guidance and other resources available to assist employers in meeting their obligations.”

Apprentices or other young workers with concerns about health and safety in their workplace can call WorkSafe’s advisory service on 1800 136 089.