Vic builder fined after apprentice death

A Melbourne building company and its director have been fined $880,000 after an apprentice fell to his death at a construction site.

Jacbe Builders and its director David Fergusson on Tuesday pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria to one charge each of failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment at a Caulfield South construction site in August 2013, WorkSafe Victoria said.

The 21-year-old apprentice and Mr Fergusson were working on the second floor of the site when it and the floor beneath collapsed.

The apprentice died trapped under debris while Mr Fergusson was injured.

Jacbe Builders was fined $700,000 and Mr Fergusson $180,000.

WorkSafe's head of hazardous industries and industry practice Michael Coffey said the apprentice's death was caused by basic safety failures.

""He put his trust in his boss, and his boss failed him in the worst possible way," Mr Coffey said in a statement on Wednesday.