Michael Garrels fights for state government to keep workplace safety checks in place

A North Queensland father whose son died in a preventable workplace electrocution is fighting to make sure the crucial legislation sparked by his deaths remains in place.

Michael and Lee Garrels, with Georgia, 13, Lachlan, 16, and a photo of Jason, who was killed at a construction site. Photo by Andrew Seymour.

A North Queensland father whose son died in a preventable workplace electrocution is fighting to make sure the crucial legislation sparked by his deaths remains in place.

Michael Garrels told the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee’s probe into potential changes to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission safety reporting requirements would remove precedent to deal with workplace incidents created by his son’s death.

In February, the government announced the Building Reg Reno, which was to cut red tape and remove ‘unnecessary financial reporting’.

The government hoped it would help the building industry deliver homes for Queenslanders faster.

However, one aspect of the proposed changes – removing the requirement to report serious incidents twice to the QBCC and to the Workplace Health and Safety regulator – has been labelled as “disgusting” by Townsville’s Mr Garrels.

In 2012, Mr Garrels’ son Jason was killed on a worksite in Clermont, which the coroner later deemed to have caused by safety breaches on the site.

As a result of the inquest, the contracting electrician responsible, Nathan Day, was jailed for seven years for manslaughter in the state’s first case of that type.

Jason’s death led to the new legislation that required contractors to report serious incidents twice.

Under the new legislation, workplace incidents would still be reported to the QBCC, but by the WHS regulator.

“If you are to amend this out, then you get rid of the precedent which gives a green light to people,” he said.

Since it was introduced after Jason’s death, Mr Garrels said the legislation has been used five times.

Mr Garrels said there was no amount of money that would make it OK to shortcut a system that could lead to unsafe worksites.

He said it would allow people to get away with unsafe practices “scot-free”.

“The fact that people know they can be suspended is the biggest thing,” he told the committee.

“Before Jason’s death, it never happened.”

Mr Garrels said the legislation was only needed five times since it was introduced and it had created a “precedent that works”.

“The committees intention it to ensure we do have safe industries,” MP Jim McDonald told the inquiry.

Originally published as Michael Garrels fights for state government to keep workplace safety checks in place