Union sounds alarm on safety fears after man crushed on Rozelle tunnel project and faulty blast at Snowy Hydro 2.0

Fears of a worker fatality loom over NSW tunnelling projects after two major incidents in the last fortnight.

Fears have been raised someone will soon die on a NSW worksite following two major incidents on tunnelling projects in the last fortnight, including a rock collapse at Rozelle which has left a man in intensive care with a shattered pelvis and internal injuries.

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) has sounded the alarm, highlighting another incident – where a scheduled explosion on the blighted Snowy Hydro 2.0 project blew through into another neighbouring tunnel – last week.

It came after workers were excavating as part of the Western Harbour Tunnel enabling works at Rozelle on Wednesday, April 24, when a portion of the roof collapsed, pinning a man underneath a mass of rocks.

He was treated by colleagues at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he remains in intensive care with pelvic and internal injuries.

That was followed by a planned explosion conducted in a cavern at the $12 billion Snowy Hydro 2.0 project on Monday last week, which burst through into the adjoining main access tunnel and causing damage to infrastructure in the tunnel.

Image of the rock collapse which injured a worker on the Western Harbour Tunnel.

No one was injured in the faulty blast, with the union claiming that when they contacted senior management at the project three hours later, they weren’t aware of the incident.

AWU NSW branch secretary Tony Callinan said following the incidents he was “genuinely concerned” there would be a death on one of the state’s tunneling projects.

“We have serious concerns over safety in the tunneling industry – Rozelle has been problematic for some time, as has Snowy 2.0,” he said.

AWU NSW branch secretary Tony Callinan. Picture: Aymon Bertah

“Unless some drastic action is taken to raise safety standards in the industry, I’m genuinely concerned it’s only a matter of time before someone is killed.”

Mr Callinan claimed contractors John Holland and CPB – who are tasked with constructing the enabling works at Rozelle – had refused to share information on the incident.

“Rozelle has had ongoing safety problems – they didn’t notify the AWU of their incident … when we contacted them, they refused to release any details – and they continue to try and limit our organisers’ rights that they have under their WHS entry permits,” he said.

Transport NSW and the John Holland and CPB joint venture confirmed an investigation was underway into the Western Harbour Tunnel incident.

“We’re working closely with the safety regulator as it carries out a full investigation, while ensuring the highest safety standards are maintained on the project,” a John Holland-CPB spokesman said.

A Transport NSW spokesman said the department was “working with our contractor to ensure the welfare and ongoing support of the worker” and is “also working with all of the relevant safety authorities”.

A Snowy Hydro spokeswoman confirmed no one was injured in their faulty blast.

“There were no workers underground at the time of the blast. It is a safety measure that no workers are allowed in the tunnel during blast activities,” she said.

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Originally published as Union sounds alarm on safety fears after man crushed on Rozelle tunnel project and faulty blast at Snowy Hydro 2.0