A carpenter sustained head injuries after falling four metres through a hole into an underground car park at the Austar Constructions project, in Auburn in Sydney’s west on 31 August. Twenty-two townhouses are being built on the site.

The worker was taken to Westmead Hospital, and WorkCover has issued two safety notices.

A CFMEU NSW preliminary investigation has revealed the site had numerous safety issues, including:

• An absence of hand railings to prevent falls
• No First Aid on site
• An unstable, makeshift “bridge” over a trench
• An absence of shoring to prevent trenches from caving in
• A number of electrocution hazards
• Unsecured building materials and debris scattered about the site, presenting trip and fall risks.

CFMEU Acting Secretary, Malcolm Tulloch said the Union was not going to stand by while unscrupulous builders risked the life and limb of workers and members of the public.

“While this site is one of the worst we’ve seen in recent months, it is typical of a growing trend amongst some builders to cut corners and cut costs at the expense of worker safety,” Mr Tulloch said.

“If a builder cannot provide a safe working environment for people working on the site, then frankly, they should not be in business.”

Mr Tulloch said the case highlighted the importance of the ability of unions to access workplaces and to advocate on behalf of worker safety.

“Unfortunately, there are too many cowboys in the industry who think they can get away with anything. The CFMEU will not back down from ensuring safety across all building sites in NSW.”