Strict rules after workers collapse at university site in severe heat

Strict licensing conditions have been imposed on a building company at a southeast Queensland university site after five workers collapsed from heat stress.

Work ongoing at USC Moreton Bay campus where five workers collapsed from heat stress on February 13. Picture: David Alexander

STRICT licensing conditions have been imposed on the company building the USC Moreton Bay foundation building after five workers collapsed from heat stress on February 13.

Building giant Hansen Yuncken informed USC immediately about the incident, that occurred on the joint hottest day of the month, with temperatures reaching 32.7C.

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The five workers required medical assistance after collapsing during a concrete pour at the university construction site.

The workers collapsed during a concrete pour last month. Picture: David Alexander

Another worker suffered a dangerous electric shock at a Hansen Yuncken project in Kelvin Grove site in January.

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The conditions, imposed by The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), require Hansen Yuncken to engage an independent certified auditor to undertake an audit of its safety management systems.

“It is the responsibility of employers to provide a safe workplace for their staff,” QBCC Commissioner Brett Bassett said.

“The QBCC takes safety breaches seriously and appropriate licensing action will be imposed on licensees, as per our legislative powers.

Workers at the USC Moreton Bay site. Picture: David Alexander

“We work in close partnership with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and take advice from them during our investigations.”

QBCC also imposed licence conditions on formwork company Adcon Qld Pty Ltd for its role in the incident.

On the day after the incident, the QBCC issued both companies with notices to provide reasons why conditions should not be imposed, a spokesman said both companies responded insufficiently.

A spokeswoman from Hansen Yuncken said that following the request from QBCC, the company commissioned an independent audit of its safety management systems

“We will continue to engage with the QBCC to discuss any findings,” she said.

USC chief operating officer Dr Scott Snyder said work at the site was still on schedule.

“USC has a close working relationship with Hansen Yuncken and is satisfied with how the project is progressing,” he said.

“Work is on schedule for the foundation building to open for students commencing in Semester 1, 2020.

“For residents watching the site, structural concrete pours should finish before Easter this year and the roof will be completed by the second half of July.”

USC, meanwhile, is holding a series of town hall meetings in late May and early June throughout Moreton Bay to answer questions on all aspects of the development.

Exact dates and locations to be determined.