Vic employers urged to enhance their efforts in protecting apprentices

Victorian employers must actively protect apprentices from harm, or face court. WorkSafe Victoria has cautioned employers with apprentices that there are significant repercussions for not safeguarding their health and safety.

Below is a snapshot of what prosecution data reveals, plus practical measures each industry can adopt as Vic employers are urged to enhance their efforts in protecting apprentices.

What the enforcement figures show

• In the last five years, WorkSafe has effectively prosecuted 66 businesses for breaches that endangered apprentices or posed significant risks to them.
• More than 3,000 injury claims from apprentices have been accepted since the beginning of 2021.
• Apprentices sit among the youngest people on site, often entering an unfamiliar industry straight after school.

WorkSafe's warning to Victorian employers

WorkSafe's Chief Health & Safety Officer Sam Jenkin noted that apprentices represent some of the most at-risk employees in Victoria, primarily aged 15 to 24 and possessing minimal 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.”

Those accepted claims underline how quickly inexperience becomes injury when supervision slips. Continue reading here.

Duties that apply across every industry

Primary duty of care does not change with age or tenure. Employers must provide supervision, information and instruction so apprentices complete tasks without exposure to uncontrolled hazards — a baseline expectation reinforced by Safe Work Australia guidance and Victorian regulations.

Supervisors carry much of this load. Pairing each new starter with an experienced mentor from inside the industry gives young employees someone to question, copy and confide in.

Practical controls for apprentice supervision

• Structured induction: cover site rules, plant, chemicals and industry-specific hazards before any task begins.
• Verified competency: observe each job performed correctly before signing off unsupervised use of machinery.
• Documented procedures: plain-language SWMS and risk assessments that young employees will genuinely read.
• Regular check-ins: ask about fatigue, bullying, health concerns and near misses, then act on the answers.
• Consultation: involve elected safety representatives whenever hazards or work methods change.
• Incident review: investigate every near miss and share lessons industry-wide.

Building a safety culture young employees carry forward

Good habits formed early tend to stick. Apprentices who watch leaders wear protective equipment, halt unsafe work and report faults will repeat that behaviour for decades, whichever industry they eventually settle in.

Poor examples stick just as firmly. Where shortcuts become normal, young employees learn that output beats protection — an attitude that follows them into supervisory roles and spreads through an entire industry.

Documentation that supports compliance

Written systems give employers evidence of consultation, instruction and hazard control. Victorian operators can adapt ready-made templates such as our OHS Driver's Manual (Vic) for vehicle risks or an OHS Environmental Management Plan (Vic) for site obligations, then tailor each document to their industry.

Related reading for Victorian employers

• Preventing amputation injuries in Victorian workplaces — machine guarding lessons for the manufacturing industry.
• Enhancing horticulture safety — regulator priorities inside a seasonal industry.
• Keeping crews cool in hot weather — heat controls for outdoor industry sectors.

Where to get further support

Apprentices deserve identical protection to any veteran tradesperson. Reviewing supervision arrangements, refreshing safety documentation and listening to young employees costs far less than prosecution — and protects the occupational health of people who will lead your trade next.

Our team maintains a broad library of workplace safety templates, from risk registers to plant-specific procedures, so Victorian businesses can act quickly. Browse the OHS management system range to align paperwork with legal duties and strengthen safety leadership on site.

Regular reviews keep occupational health risks visible and lift a site's safety record year on year.