Work stops on Range Crossing

WORK on the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing stopped yesterday after a concrete pump rolled at the site about noon.

Nexus confirmed the project had been shut down to allow project-wide discussions about safe work practice and for Nexus and Queensland Workplace Health and Safety (WHSQ) to carry out investigations.

A WHSQ spokeswoman said the regulator issued three notices after yesterday’s pump rollover.

“We work to a zero harm philosophy for our workers and subcontractors,” said Nexus Chief Executive Officer John Hagan.

“Nexus works tirelessly to prevent incidents occurring, we do this through inductions, safe work method statements, using safe plant, maintaining our machines to ensure our plant is safe and compliant, and ongoing training for all staff and plant operators. We also undertake regular audits and inspections to ensure we comply with regulatory codes and project requirements,” he added.

According to the WHSQ spokeswoman, yesterday’s concrete pump incident brings the total number of statutory notices issued in relation to the Second Range Crossing to 25.

Nexus said those recommendations had been implemented and that to date the company had not received any infringement notices or safety breaches.

WHSQ also investigated an incident last Wednesday on the Second Range Crossing in which according to the Queensland Ambulance Service a man suffered serious facial injuries after he was hit in the face by a crane hook.

That incident took place at Wellcamp.

Nexus said work was expected to restart on the project today.