TRIPLE FIGURES

Number of Second Range Crossing safety breaches tops 100

TOOWOOMBA Second Range Crossing contractor Nexus has reached a dubious milestone, with the number of safety breaches on the site topping triple figures.

Since the State Government launched an extraordinary intervention into Nexus’ handling of workplace health and safety on the $1.6 billion project in mid-February, a further 20 breaches have taken place.

At the time of the State Government’s intervention, Nexus and its subcontractors had been hit with a total of 87 statutory notices.

“I want to ensure that Nexus gets the message loud and clear,” State Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace then told The Chronicle.

Following the meeting between Ms Grace, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and Nexus executives, the company pledged to reform its safety procedures.

As of April 5, Nexus and its subcontractors have been issued with 107 statutory notices, including six infringement notices, according to figures released by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

‘‘ I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABNORMALLY HIGH NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AT THE SITE.

The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union said it would be surprising to see any construction project reach double figures for breach notices.

The Chronicle asked Ms Grace whether she thought the number of safety breaches since the February meeting was acceptable.

In a statement, Ms Grace said she was “deeply concerned about the abnormally high number of incidents at the site”.

“We have strong workplace health and safety legislation in Queensland for good reason – the safety of workers must always come first,” she said.

“Nexus has a clear responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all workers on the project.

“Minister Bailey and I took the unprecedented step of sitting down with Nexus in February to raise all issues and to ensure the company urgently address and improve its safety standards. This shows the government is willing to work with all stakeholders and just how seriously we take the safety of workers on major project sites.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads has engaged an independent consultant to conduct a safety audit of this project. This is a two-stage audit, with a final report due at the end of April.

“The Office of Industrial Relations has also established a special project team, dedicated to working with Nexus to assist them to improve compliance.”

Nexus was contacted for comment.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MINISTER GRACE GRACE