Company behind major Maryborough build issued notice after workplace injury

A construction company working on a major Maryborough development is at the centre of WorkSafe investigation after a man suffered a “significant” head injury in an alleged crane fail.

Two construction companies have been issued notices after a man suffered a “significant” head injury in a workplace accident at Maryborough.

The Chronicle can reveal WorkSafe Queensland has been investigating the companies since a man was rushed to hospital in a serious condition on May 6.

In response to questions sent ahead of the weekend, a WorkSafe Queensland spokesman confirmed on the weekend notices had been issued to two companies who have been carrying out work at the development site where Maryborough’s new 7-Eleven service station and Forty Winks are being built.

They alleged a “mini crawler crane dropped a load during lifting operations, injuring a worker at a construction site in Alice Street”.

“Following the incident, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland seized equipment and several notices were issued to the principle contractor SJ Higgins Pty Ltd and subcontractor Widgee Engineering Pty Ltd in relation to operating the crane without an appropriate license,” the spokesman said

Last month, SJ Higgins shared video of the work on the high-profile Maryborough development, with the post saying “after battling with the QLD weather to get these pits excavated, it’s exciting to share some footage of the fuel tanks as they’re lowered into their new home”.

The Chronicle reached out to both SJ Higgins and Widgee Engineering but had not received a response at the time of publishing.