Union blasts ‘catastrophic’ wall collapse at Brisbane construction site

The CFMEU has labelled a wall collapse at a Brisbane building site as “catastrophic”, with workers lucky to avoid injury. WATCH THE VIDEO

A workplace incident that saw construction fencing, trees, a footpath and part of an inner city Brisbane road collapse into a large construction pit has been labelled “catastrophic” by the construction workers’ union.

Emergency crews were called to Agnes Street, Albion, about 11.30 Monday following reports of a workplace incident involving a burst water main, but arrived to find the incident was much more significant.

Metal construction fencing had fallen into a construction pit, taking out essential services for nearby residents including water, power, and gas in the process, with the chasm spanning at least 20m and eating up part of the Agnes St bitumen.

The wall collapsed into the pit bringing down trees, footpaths, bitumen and trees. Photo: CFMEU.

Vision posted by the CFMEU union shows the moment workers made the decision to evacuate.

“Get everyone out, everyone out,” one worker is heard saying as water sprays from the burst pipe under the fence.

“Everyone out on the other side of the street.”

Another is heard describing the situation as “s**t, nasty”.

“It’s major, look at the crack in the road.”

Workers were lucky to avoid injury, with an excavator crushed in the incident. Photo: CFMEU.

What happens next is not caught on camera, but the wall collapses into the pit.

“It looks like what has happened is the whole side of the hole has collapsed in on itself,” a worker said while surveying the damage.

After the wall collapsed on Monday, the pit looked more like a swimming pool after water from the burst pipe flooded in.

Queensland Ambulance confirmed on Monday afternoon no one was injured during the incident, which the CFMEU Union has described as “lucky.”

The wall collapsed into the pit bringing down trees, footpaths, bitumen and trees. Photo: CFMEU.

“Catastrophic wall collapse at 5 POINT job site on Agnes Street, Albion,” the union wrote on social media, alongside a video showing the extent of the damage.

“Luckily no workers were injured.”

It is understood there were no workers on the site at the time of the incident.

“The CFMEU attended at the time and workers were pulled out for a number of issues on this job,” the worker said.

“The workers were very lucky today, they’re pretty shook up.”

Workers were lucky to avoid injury, with an excavator crushed in the incident which also brought down trees and powerlines. Photo: CFMEU.

“They heard a big bang before it started going and everyone just started running for their life,” the worker said.

The builders contracted to the site, 5 Point Projects, has been contacted for comment, while workplace health and safety have confirmed they are investigating the incident.