Hundreds of safety incidents, dozens of drug breaches on Gawler line electrification project

Workers on Gawler’s rail line electrification project are failing drug tests, and there have been hundreds of safety incidents.

More than 200 incidents and 23 drug test fails on the Gawler rail electrification project have prompted a safety crackdown.

Transport Minister Corey Wingard said while most workers were “doing the right thing”, he was concerned that 23 workers had tested positive to a range of illicit drugs, especially considering 209 safety incidents had been recorded so far on the project.

“The department is taking a hard-line approach to safety on this project, ensuring all workers know what the rules and punishments are for potentially dangerous behaviour,” he said.

“The electrification of a rail line is inherently dangerous work and the department routinely undertakes independent safety audits on site to ensure it’s a safe environment to work.”

The 120-year-old bridge at High St, Gawler, facing demolition for the electrification of the Adelaide to Gawler railway line. Picture: Colin James

Mr Wingard was defending Covid-related delays in the project, the finishing date for which has been shunted from late 2021 to early 2022.

He released figures on the project’s safety record, describing the scope of works as complex and “huge”, and not able to be rushed.

The project was first proposed in 2008 but has been beset with funding problems and delays caused by lockdowns of manufacturing in Victoria.

“To date more than 1.7 million work hours have been logged on this huge $715m project and while there have been some safety issues reported, it’s pleasing to see that most workers are doing the right thing,” Mr Wingard said.

“It’s a remarkable effort by all involved to have clocked up 1.7 million work hours especially considering the unavoidable impacts on the project caused by Covid-19.”

Of 209 safety incidents, 34 were most serious, Mr Wingard said.

In the most serious incidents one worker injured a shoulder, another was caught in a trench collapse and has missed work for 46 days, and three others needed stitches. There have been 1955 drug tests.

The Transport Department warned of upcoming rail line closures and bus substitutes. Gawler line works at Adelaide station will cause full line closures from the first service on Saturday, September 25, to last service on Sunday, October 10, on the Outer Harbor, Grange and Flinders lines.

There will be weekend partial line closures of the Seaford line, between Adelaide and Adelaide Showground stations, and the Belair line, between Adelaide and Mitcham stations. Additional substitute bus services will operate for the SANFL grand final on Sunday, October 3.