A viral video of an apprentice being sprayed with concrete dust received backlash in the comments. Photo / Genesis Carpentry
A viral video of an apprentice being sprayed with concrete dust received backlash in the comments. Photo / Genesis Carpentry
A prank in which concrete dust was sprayed in an apprentice’s face went viral online, sparking a wave of backlash, but the owner of the company is defending it.
In the video, which has amassed more than two million views, one of the workers uses an air compressor to blowconcrete dust into an apprentice’s face as he drills a hole into the concrete.
The apprentice, named Connor, thrusts back as the cloud of dust hits him and covers his face with his hand.
Many comments were negative, saying the prank was dangerous and irresponsible.
Some of the critical comments the video received.
“A prank is us sending an apprentice to Bunnings looking for a tool that doesn’t exist for a few minutes. Bit of fun, no one is hurt, everyone has a good laugh, and they bank it so they can do it to the next one. A prank isn’t giving someone a disease,” one said.
“‘Why does nobody want to be our apprentice?’” asked another.
Speaking to 7News, the owner of the company, Michael Zaatini, defended the prank.
He said the video was planned and intended as a joke.
“We counted down from three, and Connor held his breath.”
Once the prank was finished, “he washed his face ... and then we edited the video together and posted it.”
The backlash in the comments did not faze Zaatini and the workers, he said.
It even motivated the tradies to film another video.
The clip, titled “no one is safe”, followed the same formula, with someone using an air compressor to spray concrete dust into a worker’s face as they drill a hole.
