Cross River Rail workplace accident: Workers return to construction sites

It will likely be days before construction on Brisbane’s Cross River Rail project fully resumes, despite staff returning for the first time since a horror workplace accident.

Construction at Queensland’s largest infrastructure project is unlikely to kick into full gear for days, despite workers returning to the site for the first time since a horror workplace accident.

The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority confirmed workers had returned to sites on Monday to take part in safety reviews, with a staged recommencement of work across the $6.3 billion project’s 17 sites to follow after consultation.

It was the first time workers had returned after scaffolder Nation “Nash” Kouka was left in a critical condition following a 12m fall at the Boggo Rd site last week.

Mr Kouka’s family revealed their heartbreak at the weekend, his wife Doris describing him as a “truly good guy”.

Workers have returned to Cross River Rail construction sites at Boggo Rd, Woolloongabba and Roma Street. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A spokesman said “a structured plan was established” for the safety reviews — which were being conducted with input from the on-site contractors, unions and site-based health and safety representatives.

“The process, which includes addressing the workforce, site inspections and reviewing documentation such as safe work method statements, is progressing separately at each site,” he said.

“In some instances, workers who were not required for safety review activities have left their sites, and will return as needed.

“Work will recommence across sites in stages following consultation and feedback.”

It is understood work may recommence at some sites late this week.

Nation "Nash" Kouka remains in hospital after the accident. Picture: Supplied

The CFMEU again called for Transport Minister Mark Bailey to be sacked.

But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Monday said she had confidence in Mr Bailey despite reports of shock safety shortfalls plaguing the project.

She said Mr Bailey was meeting with the Cross River Rail delivery authority and “working at addressing those issues as a matter of priority”.

She told media on Monday she would have to check if safety concerns at the mega rail project had made it to her desk, though she noted there had been issues “over a period of time”.

It was revealed in recent days workers on the state government’s infrastructure showpiece had been hit by falling objects and exposed to hazards posing “serious risk of injury or death” according to copies of safety enforcement notices.

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.

But the CRRDA has described the safety record as “objectively and significantly better” than industry average, revealing it had a “lost time injury frequency rate” of 0.53 compared to the heavy engineering construction sector average of 9.2.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is “actively investigating” the serious incident, a WHSQ spokeswoman confirmed on Monday.