Spot the difference: Cross River Rail site ‘sanitised’ after accident

An investigation has been launched into claims an accident site on the Cross River Rail project was “sanitised” before workplace health and safety inspectors arrived. BEFORE AND AFTER PICS

An investigation has been launched into allegations that an accident scene on the Cross River Rail project was “sanitised” before State Government workplace health and safety inspectors arrived.

Two workers were injured after a concrete pump “whipping” incident on the Roma St site of the $6.3bn CRR project two weeks ago.

The men were employed by the same company, Kenny Constructions, which was involved in a major accident on the Boggo Rd site in July which left a worker fighting for life in hospital.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said it was investigating union claims the Roma St site was cleaned up before the arrival of inspectors after the August 23 accident.

The Courier-Mail has obtained “before” and “after” photos of the alleged clean-up.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union secretary Michael Ravbar said the allegation, if proven accurate, was outrageous.

Mr Ravbar said the circumstances were “extraordinary” and that the project has been “plagued with serious safety issues” from the start.

“This is just one of numerous incidents where inspectors have turned up to incidents hours or days after the event, or just refused to attend at all.,” he said.

Mr Ravbar said WHSQ was meant to be enforcing safety regulations but workers had lost faith in the regulator.

“Too often, inspectors tasked with ensuring basic safety regulations are complied with are refusing to even investigate cases where workers’ lives are put in danger,” he said.

“Building workers have quite frankly had a gutful of a dysfunctional department.”

Kenny Constructions did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey’s office referred questions to the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority.

A Cross River Rail Delivery Authority spokesman said investigations were ongoing.

Kenny Constructions worker and father-of-two Nation “Nash” Kouka remains in hospital after falling more than 10m on the Cross River Rail Boggo Rd site at Dutton Park in July.

The accident sparked building union fury and a mass three-day walk-off by workers across the entire Cross River Rail project.

Originally published as Spot the difference: Cross River Rail site ‘sanitised’ after accident