Cross River Rail safety failings exposed in injury log showing ‘worst record’ in Australia

Dozens of government safety enforcement notices dating back more than three years have exposed a litany of safety breaches on the Cross River Rail including hazards posing “serious risk of injury or death”.

Workers on the State Government’s showpiece Cross River Rail project have been hit by falling objects and exposed to hazards posing “serious risk of injury or death”, according to a litany of official safety breaches.

The Sunday Mail has obtained copies of dozens of government safety enforcement notices dating back more than three years on the $6.3 billion infrastructure project after a worker was critically injured this week.

Cross River Rail construction was shut down after Nation “Nash” Kouka was left fighting for life in hospital when he fell up to 12m from scaffolding at the Boggo Rd station site at Dutton Park on Tuesday.

It was the latest in a spate of incidents on Cross River Rail which the peak building union has blasted as having “the worst safety record of any major civil construction project in Australia”.

The Brisbane Cross River Rail construction sight was closed after a man was left fighting for his life following a 12m fall from scaffolding. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Angry workers walked off the job until Monday as authorities launched a full safety audit of the project.

Contractors working on the project have been hit with almost 350 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland breaches since it began, including 38 stop-work orders and 30 infringement notices with fines.

Copies of breach notices, obtained by the Sunday Mail, reveal incidents including one at the Albert St station in March this year when a worker was injured after being hit by a falling object with no exclusion zone in place.

A prohibition or stop-work notice was issued over the breach which the inspector found posed a “serious risk” to health and safety.

Nation "Nash" Kouka is still in a critical condition. Picture: Supplied

Multiple stop-work notices have been issued at the Boggo Rd station site where Mr Kouka was seriously injured, for safety issues including dangerous handrails which posed “a serious risk of injury or death”.

Cross River Rail sites were also hit with safety breaches for issues including workers being potentially exposed to asbestos and other hazards, poor emergency evacuation lighting, explosive chargers being stored unsafely and inadequate training including one incident where a delivery truck reversed into a crane.

Infringement notices with fines of up to $3600 have been issued to CRR contractors for breaches including failing to properly maintain a hazardous chemicals register.

A Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union spokesman said the union had been warning the government for years.

A CFMEU protest about Cross River Rail work sites, gathering at Queens Park. Photo Steve Pohlner

“The safety reset should have happened years ago,” he said.

“If 300 safety breaches issued by the government’s own inspectors isn’t a wake-up call, we don’t know what is.

“This project has already claimed the scalps of two ministers in Jackie Trad and Kate Jones and if it’s not fixed, you have to wonder about (Transport) Minister Mark Bailey’s longevity.”

Mr Bailey said Tuesday’s “shocking” accident was still under WHSQ investigation and his thoughts were with Mr Kouka, his family and co-workers.

“Any breaches of safety are concerning, and we are working with the contractor, unions, and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority to ensure an accident of this nature does not happen again,” he said.

“A work pause is in place across all work sites and a full safety reset will take place from Monday.”

A Cross River Rail Delivery Authority spokesman said the project was “massive and complex”, with around 3000 workers on 17 separate sites clocking up 24 million hours so far.

“Despite the project’s size and scale, Cross River Rail’s safety record is objectively and significantly better than industry averages.

“And because of the project’s size and scale, it is not unreasonable to expect an intense focus from WHSQ.”

It’s understood Cross River Rail’s lost time injury frequency rate is a fraction of comparable projects.

“Safety is – and always has been – Cross River Rail’s top priority,” the spokesman said.

“Of course, the recent incident is a reminder we cannot be complacent, and we expect the on-site contractors to uphold the highest standards.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the horrific incident would be critical in assessing the major project’s safety.

When asked if the multibillion rail project was a safe place to work, he said: “That’s something that’s going to need to be addressed through this safety audit and through the investigation”.

“An incident like this should never happen,” Mr Miles told reporters on Sunday morning.

“There is no acceptable level of incidents like this one.”

The Deputy Premier reiterated comments from Transport Minister Mark Bailey and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority that the number of safety instances were better than industry standards despite the Sunday Mail detailing the near 350 reported safety breaches.

“Safety is a number one priority and that’s especially the case on a state government project,” Mr Miles said.

“The contractor advises that the rate of safety concerns is within industry standards.

“However, obviously this awful tragedy means that a very, very close look needs to be had at safety on that project.”