We reported recently about the prevalence of employers putting apprentices at risk, and this week in yet another example of employers failing to protect employees in a vulnerable employment relationship at a domestic and commercial framing company, Eighty8 Construction Group Pty Ltd. It has been fined $12,500 after failing to provide a safe system of work for three apprentices.
In 2023 Eighty8 was working on a subcontract to conduct carpentry works at a two-storey residential construction in Burwood. In May of that year a WorkSafe inspector attended the workplace to conduct a proactive inspection.
The inspector observed three apprentices undertaking work in laying sheets on the first floor, adjacent to unprotected edges at a height of over two metres. There was no supervisor present. Supervision in the workplace is vital for apprentices or trainees to become competent in their chosen trade, and to work safely, confidently and effectively. Victorian law requires employers to supervise apprentices and trainees in the workplace.
Eighty8 acknowledged that it had failed to implement measures to reduce or eliminate the risks to the health or safety of its employees by failing to provide a passive fall prevention device such as a perimeter edge or void protections and failed to safely use a ladder.
The ladder provided to access the first floor was a folded-out A-frame ladder that was not secured, did not extend one metre above the landing and did not provide a hand hold for dismounting at the landing.
The inspector issued three Improvement Notices and the company was charged with a breach of s.21(1) of the OHS Act and r.44(2) and r.44(5) of the OHS Regulations. They were also charged with s.21(1) and s.21 (2)(e) for failing to provide necessary supervision of employees to ensure that they did not commence the task until fall protection was installed and a safe and secured ladder was used to access the first floor.
Eighty8 complied with the Improvement Notices, pleaded guilty and was fined without conviction. The company entered liquidation in December 2024.
Read more: Prosecution Result Summaries and Enforceable Undertakings | WorkSafe Victoria