Concerns rise over safety at Qld construction site after worker impaled in neck

A worker’s life-threatening injury at Brisbane’s Centenary Bridge construction site has prompted a workplace health and safety investigation and drawn the attention of both the government and CFMEU.

The man, in his 30s, was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital on Tuesday after being impaled in the neck by a piece of metal mesh.

Workers reportedly had to cut the man free as paramedics from high acuity response and critical care units attended to him. Worksite operator BMD said he was in a stable condition.

The worker reportedly had to be cut free from the mesh on which he was impaled.

CFMEU workplace health and safety co-ordinator Kurt Pauls said the union had been trying “for months” to access the site, managed by building group BMD.

“Our organisers have been called to the site on numerous occasions due to a range of safety issues, including fall from heights, contaminated drinking water, dangerous temporary fencing, and BMD’s use of unsafe imported building materials,” Pauls said.

“The Centenary Bridge upgrade is funded by state and federal Labor governments.

“They should do the right thing by workers and stop awarding BMD major taxpayer-funded projects.”

Federal Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has issued a stern warning to Australia’s construction industry about maintaining safety standards while the CFMEU is under forced administration.

“The administrator has made it clear that any breaches of workplace health and safety will be pursued to the full extent of the law,” Watt said.

“Wages and conditions for construction workers have been hard won, and they should not be weakened.”

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland confirmed it had begun investigating the site, with inspectors sent there yesterday to make inquiries, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

“[They] will return to the site again today to continue investigations,” she added.

Parts of the worksite were reported to have been closed following Tuesday’s incident.

“At this time, the project is primarily concerned with the welfare and safety of the individual involved in the incident and his family,” a BMD spokeswoman said.

“Our focus is on working together with the workplace safety regulator and other stakeholders to assist with the investigation into the cause of the incident and provide continuing support to our employees and subcontractors.”

The $300 million contract for the Centenary Bridge upgrade was awarded in 2022, with a new three-lane inbound bridge being built alongside the existing Centenary Bridge at Jindalee in south-west Brisbane.