Worker dies in machinery accident at Port of Brisbane

A man has been killed after bulldozer rolled over at a cement site at the Port of Brisbane on Friday.

Helicopter imagery showed a bulldozer propped up by a series of jacks, with another vehicle pushing at its rear.

Both vehicles were at the foot of a large pile of sand.

Paramedics were called to the scene on Bulk Terminals Drive about 6.20am after reports a worker had been critically injured in an accident involving a bulldozer.

Firefighters also attended the scene, with the Queensland Fire Department receiving a request from the paramedics, where they were asked to stabilise a rolled bulldozer, a QFD spokesperson said.

The incident happened at a sprawling site run by Sunstate Cement Ltd.

Through the electric gate, huge mounds of white and grey material blocked the view of the scene. The strong chemical smell hung on the air, wafting across from a bitumen producer over the road.

A sign next to the gate read: “You are entering a zero harm site”.

Two police cars were seen leaving the site at 9.40am.

Despite the accident, large trucks continued to move through the gate.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors were on the site later in the day.

“Inquiries into the incident are under way, as this is an active investigation, no further comment can be made at this time,” a spokesperson said.

In a statement, Sunstate Cement general manager Peter Edwards said the man who died was a contractor, and the company was assisting with the investigation.

“Our priority right now is to provide support to the contractor’s family and our people at site,” he said.

The Australian Workers Union (AWU) said union organisers were also on the ground.

“This is a devastating loss, and the AWU extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and workmates of the man who has been killed,” a spokesperson said.

“Workplace deaths are unacceptable. Every worker has the right to return home safely at the end of their shift, and tragedies like this should not be occurring in modern Australian workplaces.”

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

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