A recent Electrical Trades Union (ETU) survey has revealed a serious safety risk across our industry — one in eight electrical apprentices have received a potentially deadly electric shock at work.
For apprentices who don’t start trade school until their second year, that number doubles to one in four.
Delays in safety training, poor supervision, and inconsistent mentoring are leaving new apprentices exposed to unacceptable risks in a licensed, high-risk trade. Since 2018, six apprentices have tragically lost their lives due to electrocution.
Energy Skills Australia (ESA) supports the concerns raised in the recent media articles including:
- Safety training must be delivered upfront
- Apprentices must be properly supervised at all times
- Consistent, enforceable safety standards are needed nationally
- Mentoring must be genuine and accessible
Australia needs up to 42,000 additional electricians by 2030, but this workforce cannot be built by compromising safety.
Every apprentice deserves to learn in a safe environment and return home unharmed — every single day.
ESA will continue advocating with government, industry and unions to ensure training is delivered safely and responsibly as Australia transitions to clean energy.