Members of the CFMEU marched today after a worker fell 12m from scaffolding at a Cross River Rail site amid “appalling” safety conditions. Image credit: John Robert McPherson via Wikimedia Commons.
Members of the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) marched in Brisbane CBD today after a worker fell 12m from scaffolding at the Boggo Rd Cross River Rail worksite amid “appalling” safety conditions.
Nation “Nash” Kouka, 54, is currently in critical condition at the Princess Alexendra Hospital after a falling up to 12 metres onto a concrete surface, resulting in extensive internal injuries.
The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority said the following in a statement released this morning:
“Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the worker, his loved ones and his colleagues.
This is a very sad incident, and its impact is being felt right across the project today.
Safety is Cross River Rail’s top priority, and we expect our contractors to uphold the highest possible standards.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating the incident, and we expect our on-site contractors to cooperate fully with the safety regulator.
The Delivery Authority, of course, will also assist in any way we can with the investigation.
In the meantime, support is being offered to staff across the project.
The Boggo Road site remains closed, and will reopen when Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the on-site contractor deem it appropriate to do so.”
However, union officials said that the project had a history of “serious safety problems” which had gone unaddressed by management.
Zach Smith, national secretary of the CFMEU, said hundreds of union members had ceased work at the site, with strikes expected to continue until Monday.
“Our members are withdrawing their labour in response to this terrible incident, which has come after a litany of serious safety problems with Cross River Rail,” said Smith.
Smith went on to say that regulators had issued more than 300 safety notices at the Boggo Rd site.
“There must be urgent action to fix the absolutely disgraceful and toxic culture surrounding this project,” he said.
“That awful record tells you everything you need to know about the appalling safety conditions we’re talking about.”
