Worker safety paramount at Waterfront Place
Published Tuesday, 13 November, 2007 at 05:09 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The safety of workers and the public was paramount to the decision to close the Waterfront Place building today, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said the potential for window panes to fall from the office tower was considered by workplace health and safety experts to pose an risk to the safety and well being of people in the vicinity.
“People working in the building will be allowed to leave this afternoon but will not be able to return till engineers are satisfied the buildings windows are safe.
“The decision may cause some inconvenience but there can be no denying that some operational discomfort is a better alternative than a workplace tragedy,” he said.
“A meeting between Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the building managers today revealed that there had been some problems in the past with the building.
“Saturday’s incident reinforced the need for safety.
If a falling panel was to hit a group of pedestrians a car or a bus the outcome would be catastrophic.
“Brisbane City Council shares the concerns and for that reason has moved to close Felix Street.”
Mr Mickel said WHS Queensland inspectors were on the ground at the site immediately after the incident occurred and are carrying out an exhaustive investigation.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is working with Brisbane City Council and other agencies to manage the incident and protect people in the area.
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 13, 2007
Mr Mickel said the potential for window panes to fall from the office tower was considered by workplace health and safety experts to pose an risk to the safety and well being of people in the vicinity.
“People working in the building will be allowed to leave this afternoon but will not be able to return till engineers are satisfied the buildings windows are safe.
“The decision may cause some inconvenience but there can be no denying that some operational discomfort is a better alternative than a workplace tragedy,” he said.
“A meeting between Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the building managers today revealed that there had been some problems in the past with the building.
“Saturday’s incident reinforced the need for safety.
If a falling panel was to hit a group of pedestrians a car or a bus the outcome would be catastrophic.
“Brisbane City Council shares the concerns and for that reason has moved to close Felix Street.”
Mr Mickel said WHS Queensland inspectors were on the ground at the site immediately after the incident occurred and are carrying out an exhaustive investigation.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is working with Brisbane City Council and other agencies to manage the incident and protect people in the area.
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 13, 2007