Employers Urged to Do More to Protect Apprentices

Original article: Employers urged to do more to protect apprentices (worksafe.vic.gov.au)

Serious risks for young workers

WorkSafe Victoria is warning Victorian employers that they’ve gotta step up and put real effort into keeping apprentices safe at work. Apprentices are often young and new to their jobs, which means they’re at higher risk of injury or worse if safety isn’t taken seriously from day one.

Over the past five years, WorkSafe has successfully prosecuted 66 companies after breaches of health and safety laws that either harmed apprentices or put them at serious risk. That resulted in around $7.38 million in fines, costs and undertakings.

Sadly, nine of those prosecutions and over $3.21 million in penalties were linked to five fatal incidents.

Why apprentices are vulnerable

WorkSafe’s Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin pointed out that many apprentices are aged 15 to 24 and haven’t built up experience yet, so their first few months on the job are a risky period.

Since 2021, more than 3,000 injury claims from apprentices have been accepted, and falls from height accounted for 410 of those claims. That also led to 38 prosecutions and almost $2.5 million in penalties, and some claims involved serious injuries like skull fractures, brain bleeds, spinal injuries and fractures.

WorkSafe highlighted that psychosocial hazards such as bullying, harassment and aggression also show up in apprenticeship injury claims and prosecutions, with disturbing examples including apprentices being physically abused or placed in unsafe situations by supervisors.

What this means for employers

WorkSafe is calling on bosses to build workplace cultures where safety and respect are non-negotiable, and apprentices know they’ll be heard and supported if something feels unsafe.

WorkSafe also shares safety intelligence with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). In the past five years, the VRQA has banned more than 100 companies from employing apprentices, about 40 per cent due to health and safety issues.

Apprentices or trainees who have safety or training concerns at work can contact WorkSafe’s advisory service or the VRQA for help.

TL;DR

• Victorian employers are being urged to do more to protect apprentices, who are one of the most vulnerable groups at work.
• WorkSafe has prosecuted 66 companies in five years over safety breaches affecting apprentices, including five fatal incidents.
• Falls from height and psychosocial hazards like bullying show up a lot in claims.
• WorkSafe and the VRQA are pushing for stronger cultures of safety, respect and support for apprentices.