Worker dies after ‘signs of heat stress’, hundreds walk off Cross River Rail site

A construction worker was found dead hours after he left one of Brisbane’s Cross River Rail job sites, a union says, amid concerns over employees toiling in humid conditions.

The CFMEU said hundreds of construction workers had walked off the $6.3 billion rail project on Thursday to protest health and safety policies.

Cross River Rail worker Daniel Sa’u and his family in a photo posted on GoFundMe after his death.Credit: GoFundMe

The worker was found dead by police on December 28 in Moorooka, in Brisbane’s south, hours after he left the Salisbury site about 1pm.

It was understood the worker, Daniel Sa’u, 29, was a father and lived in Zillmere. Authorities said it was unclear at this stage what had caused his death.

CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar said Cross River Rail workers had laboured through oppressive heat and humidity over the Christmas and new year break.

“One labourer – a young father – tragically passed away in late December after showing signs of severe heat stress while working on a Cross River Rail site in Salisbury,” he said.

Boggo Road’s Cross River Rail station under construction in February 2023.

It was understood Sa’u received text messages from his colleagues in the hours after he left the site asking if he was okay.

An online fundraiser launched for the Sa’u family read: “This is an unimaginable loss and the pain of that afternoon leaves us all speechless and in disbelief.”

Police said a report would be prepared for the coroner, but at this stage, the worker’s cause of death was yet to be determined and investigations were continuing.

An illustration of Salisbury Station, one of several stations on the Beenleigh line being upgraded as part of the Cross River Rail project.Credit: Cross River Rail

Sa’u was found dead in a car about 3.30pm on Colebrook Avenue, police said.

A spokeswoman from the Office of Industrial Relations said Workplace Health and Safety Queensland was investigating “to determine if any work-related factors contributed to the death”.

The spokeswoman said WHSQ also attended Cross River Rail sites at Dutton Park and Yeerongpilly on January 18, following a request for assistance.

“WHSQ issued an improvement notice requiring the principal contractor to provide information, instruction, and training to workers on heat stress management procedures at CRR sites,” she said.

The union claimed several other workers had been hospitalised in recent weeks after suffering heat stress.

A Cross River Rail Delivery Authority spokesman said sites were being monitored in line with rigorous heat management policies.

“Heat is managed on site on a daily basis via task cards and Safe Work Method Statements, and shade shelters, air-conditioned crib rooms, chilled water, and heat monitors are available,” a statement read.

“Given the recent spate of warm weather, extra emphasis is being placed on heat management activities.

“These include things such as safety officers monitoring sites to ensure they remain within acceptable levels and toolbox talks to remind crews about the need for rest breaks and rehydration.

“In instances where workers have advised of heat-related symptoms, ambulances have been called and they have either been treated on site or taken to hospital for assessment as a precaution in line with heat management policies.”

The CRRDA said counselling had been offered to Sa’u’s colleagues.

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