VIC company to front court over alleged workplace bullying

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VIC Company to Front Court Over Alleged Workplace Bullying

A Ballarat-based heating and cooling company faces court proceedings over allegations that an apprentice was bullied by colleagues at work. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of employer obligations to prevent workplace bullying across Victorian workplaces.

The apprentice was allegedly subjected to bullying between July 2022 and March 2023, according to charges filed by the regulator.

Charges Laid Under the OHS Act

WorkSafe Victoria has charged the company with breaching section 21(2)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act by failing to provide a safe working environment.

Investigators further allege the business contravened the same provision by neglecting to ‘provide and maintain systems of work for identifying, reporting, investigating and stopping inappropriate workplace behaviour, including workplace bullying.’ Such systems form a core part of any employer’s occupational health and safety framework, particularly where psychosocial hazards are concerned.

What Happens Next

Both parties are scheduled to appear in court for a mention hearing early next year. Outcomes from this matter may reinforce how seriously safety regulators treat allegations of bullying within trade and apprenticeship settings.

Why Workplace Bullying Remains a Safety Priority

Bullying poses a genuine risk to employee wellbeing and organisational safety culture. Employers carry a legal duty to identify, report and address inappropriate behaviour before it escalates into harm.

Businesses seeking to strengthen their approach can benefit from a documented Workplace Bullying Policy, which sets clear expectations for acceptable conduct and reporting pathways. Pairing a policy with a Workplace Bullying Report Form gives staff a practical mechanism for raising concerns early.

• Establish clear reporting channels for bullying incidents
• Train supervisors to recognise early warning signs
• Investigate complaints promptly and impartially
• Review psychosocial health risks alongside physical safety hazards

This matter follows other recent Victorian prosecutions, including a case where a Vic farm was set to front court after a fatal workplace incident, and another where a VIC feedlot company was charged over a workplace fatal electrocution. A further example saw a Vic company fined over a timber mill death, underscoring the regulator’s consistent enforcement approach across varied safety breaches.

For businesses wanting to stay ahead of compliance obligations, attending industry events such as the Workplace Health and Safety Show offers practical insight into current safety expectations and regulatory trends.

Read the original article here.

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