Electrical company and director charged over treatment of apprentice
27 Nov 2024•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
One Two Electrical Pty Ltd and its sole director, Nicholas Sheehan, face charges over alleged failures to protect an apprentice from inappropriate workplace behaviour.
The company faces two charges under section 21(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for allegedly failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment.
WorkSafe Victoria alleges the company breached section 21(2)(a) by failing to maintain systems of work to identify, report, investigate and stop inappropriate workplace behaviour.
The regulator also alleges a breach of section 21(2)(e), relating to necessary information, instruction and training. The alleged failures cover workplace behaviour standards, managers’ and supervisors’ responsibilities, how employees could report inappropriate behaviour, and how complaints could be investigated and addressed.
Sheehan, 33, faces 17 charges under section 26(1) for allegedly failing to ensure a workplace under his management and control was safe and without risks to health. He also faces 17 charges under section 25(1)(b) for allegedly failing, as an employee, to take reasonable care for the health and safety of a person affected by his workplace acts or omissions.
WorkSafe alleges Sheehan failed to reduce the apprentice’s risk of psychological injury by not refraining from bullying, sexually harassing or directing work-related gendered violence at her between September 2022 and April 2023.
The matters are scheduled for a mention hearing at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 19 December 2024.
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