Carpentry firm faces backlash over silica-dust prank on apprentice

A Sydney-area carpentry business is under intense scrutiny after two prank videos showing an apprentice being exposed to silica dust circulated online, drawing sharp warnings from safety authorities and a union about the health risks of breathing silica. The videos, which appear to depict a scene at a construction site, have sparked a broader debate about workplace culture and the responsibilities of employers in protecting workers from known hazards.

The footage in question includes a clip titled A Day in the Life of an Apprentice in which two Genesis Carpentry tradies drill deep holes for posts, then one teammate uses an air gun compressor to blow dust toward the apprentice. As a cloud of concrete dust erupts, the apprentice recoils, raises his hands to shield his face, and coughs. A second video, captioned No one is safe, shows a similar scenario. Silica dust is created when materials such as stone, concrete, bricks, and engineered stone are cut, drilled, or ground, and it can become a fine airborne hazard when disturbed on site.

Genesis Carpentry’s director, Micheal Zaatini, told the Daily Mail that the videos were intended as jokes and emphasized that the company takes silica dust seriously. He said the apprentices involved were part of the discussion beforehand and that both wore safety glasses and ear protection during the takes. He added that the apprentices held their breath when the dust was released and immediately washed their faces, noses, and eyes after the moment.

Safe Work NSW has reached out to the company, though Zaatini said he is not deterred by the public backlash or the stream of abusive calls. The company’s handling of the incident is now part of a broader conversation about how humor on work sites interacts with safety protocols and training.

The backlash has come from both within the trades and from safety advocates. Luke Poskus, coordinator for CFMEU NSW, said the union learned of the videos from concerned members and described the prank as shocking. He stressed that silicosis and lung cancer are real risks associated with silica exposure and that the behavior displayed in the videos runs counter to recommended safety practices. The union official said the apprentices were not coerced and that the union would be open to speaking with them to assess their well-being, including FaceTime contact to verify that the workers are safe.

In the wake of the videos, allied voices in the trades condemned the stunt as irresponsible. Respondents online called it an absolute dog act and warned that exposing young workers to silica dust without appropriate PPE or environmental controls can have serious, long-term health consequences. Trading partners and industry peers noted that health risks from silica exposure can surface years after initial contact and that early safety training and robust control measures are essential to protect young workers who may be new to the trade.

The episode comes amid a sustained public-health context around silica exposure. Estimates suggest 230 Australians develop lung cancer each year due to past silica exposure at work, with about 350 more diagnosed with silicosis annually. The Cancer Council has previously estimated that around 600,000 Australians are exposed to silica dust in the workplace each year. A Curtin University study from 2022 projected that 10,000 Australians will develop lung cancer from past silica exposure and about 103,000 more will develop silicosis as a direct result of current work. Health researchers note that symptoms of silica-related diseases can take years to appear, underscoring the importance of early risk management on construction sites.

As the public conversation continues, industry watchers say the incident underscores the need for rigorous safety cultures on job sites and clear consequences for practices that put workers at risk. While the company maintains that the videos were lighthearted and that no one was forced into participating, the episode has already intensified scrutiny of how tradespeople balance humor with safety obligations and the broader responsibility of business owners to protect workers from known hazards.