CFMEU slams Tomkins Builders over Bowen Hills worksite

A Brisbane construction company has been slammed by the CFMEU after apparently failing to adhere to safe social distancing rules at a Bowen Hills worksite.

Tomkins Builders have been slammed by the CFMEU after Queensland Government regulators were “forced to intervene” at a Brisbane construction site on Tuesday.

In a release today the union have revealed Tomkins were issued a formal notice from regulators after it failed to “adhere to safe social distancing requirements” on its Bowen Hills building site.

Workers on The Jewel site this afternoon. CFMEU flag still flying at this stage. Picture Glenn Hampson

“While other builders and contractors are adjusting work practices to manage the threat of COVID-19, Tomkins seems to think they are above the law,” CFMEU Assistant State Secretary Jade Ingham said.

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Mr Ingham then went onto call the building company a “cowboy outfit”

“If a company can’t provide a safe working environment for its employees it should not be operating in this state,” he said.

“They’d rather jam as many workers as possible into a single construction hoist to try and save a few minutes, with no regard to the risk this represents for the entire workforce, and the whole construction sector in Queensland.”

When approached by The Courier-Mail for comment, a Tomkins spokeswoman stated that “the safety and wellbeing of our people and those we work with is our highest priority.”

“We have strictly complied with the COVID-19 measures as directed by the relevant

authorities. We will be seeking an internal review of this notice from Workplace Health and Safety.”