Pig N Whistle worker ‘sent to hospital in Uber’, no report filed after serious workplace fall

A worker left with a 17cm scar after a fall at a Brisbane pub owned by one of the state’s largest hospitality companies claims he was sent to hospital in an Uber, with no report filed to Workplace Health and Safety.

Pig 'N' whistle in Queen St. Picture: NathanRichter

A foreign worker has been left with a 17cm scar after falling off a steep basement ladder at an inner-city Brisbane pub owned by one of the state’s largest hospitality companies.

Pig N Whistle on Queen Street did not report the incident to Workplace Health and Safety – the watchdog only found out 14 months later when the injured worker came forward.

Jaewoong An, 32, came to Brisbane from South Korea four years ago and worked as a prep chef at various venues owned by Mantle Group Hospitality.

On May 1, 2022, Mr An opened the hatch in the middle of the kitchen area at the restaurant and went down the ladder to the basement storage.

As he was going down, he fell and sliced his hand open on a sharp metal edge on the ladder. He broke a bone and severed several tendons in his left hand, according to doctors’ reports.

Mr An claimed he was sent to a hospital in an Uber.

In a statement, a Mantle Group Hospitality spokeswoman said: “a manager accompanied Mr An to hospital in the Uber, he didn’t travel alone. The Uber was deemed the fastest form of transport to get him there.”

Jaewoong An outside Pig N Whistle Queen Street. Picture: Steve Pohlner

WorkCover supported Mr An in his recovery, covering his medical and rehabilitation costs.

According to psychiatrists’ reports, Mr An developed symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, as well as anxiety and depression following the accident.

“I always wear the sleeve because obviously it doesn’t look very good. Whenever I go out. I have a social phobia. I’m still seeing a psychiatrist,” he said.

Mr An has undergone 12 months of physical therapy and his hand has recovered well, but his treating specialists are uncertain whether his hand will ever fully recover.

“I will not be able to work like before (the accident),” he said.

Jaewoong An’s injury.

A Workplace Health and Safety Queensland spokeswoman confirmed the watchdog was only notified about Mr An’s May 2022 accident when he reported it on July 11 this year.

“An inspector attended the venue to make inquiries on July 13. A ladder was inspected as part of the visit. No notices were issued in respect to the ladder,” the spokeswoman said.

It is understood that after the WHSQ inspector’s first visit on July 13 and before he returned several days later, new grip tape was installed on the basement ladder at the Pig N Whistle.

The Mantle Group Hospitality spokeswoman confirmed the WHSQ inspection at their Pig N Whistle Queen Street business and that only policy and training revisions were required.

“The business has already complied with the notice from WHSQ, which focused on revising our policies,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr An was not able to work for 12 weeks and when he was able to return to work he could only lift items 3kg or lighter with his injured hand, according to doctor’s notes.

When he got a second – albeit minor – injury at the Pig N Whistle, Mr An said he asked to work elsewhere. He said Mantle Group moved him to Babylon on Eagle Street for several months.

However, as of last month, Mr An claims Mantle Group abruptly stopped giving him shifts. Timesheets seen by The Courier-Mail indicate his last shift was on July 7.

A 10-step ladder where Jaewoong An fell. Photo: Supplied

Mantle Group insists he has not been terminated, and he is still on their books as a casual.

In addition to this, Mr An’s WorkCover compensation payments ended on June 5, meaning he must foot the ongoing cost – around $100 per month – of medicinal cream for his 17cm scar.

Mr An said he worked 45 hours per week before the accident. He got back to as many as 30 hours per week during the latter stages of his recovery under WorkCover.

He has found new work in a kitchen on Brisbane’s southside, but he is only doing 10 hours per week at this stage.

This lesser income coupled with the ongoing out-of-pocket medicinal cream costs, together with the cost-of-living and rental crisis – times are tough for the visa worker.

The Mantle Group Hospitality spokeswoman said Mr An’s injury was the first notifiable incident to WHSQ in over 10 years.

“MGH fully supported Mr An through his recovery, rehabilitation and return to work program, which was closely managed by WorkCover Queensland,” she said.

Mantle Group said the design of the basement and kitchen hatch at Pig ‘N’ Whistle Queen Street is unique to that venue, and their other venues are not affected.

The Pig N Whistle Queen Street will close in mid-September with Brisbane City Council planning to give the city thoroughfare a makeover.

The restaurant Milano closed earlier this year at one end of Queen Street, and the Pig N Whistle will soon go at the other entrance.