04:29 pm, Tuesday 19 December, 2006

Article from: AAP

A UNION fears a rush to finish work on a western Sydney construction sitebefore Christmas may have led to workers being injured.

One man has been taken to hospital in a stable condition while two others suffered minor injuries and were treated on site after formwork collapsed during a concrete pour on the site at Parramatta.

The incident occurred about 1.30pm (AEDT) today on a high rise block on the corner of Macquarie and Smith streets.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said the timber formwork appears to have collapsed under the weight of the concrete being poured.

“It is a miracle that no one from the site was killed as tonnes of concrete, steel and timber crashed down to the level below,” CFMEU Parramatta organiser Mal Tulloch said.

“We are concerned that shortcuts have possibly been taken with the construction of the formwork as the builder attempts to rush through work prior to the Christmas break.”

Mr Tulloch said the union had previously had safety disputes with the site management Broad Construction after union officials were denied access to carry out a safety inspection.

Comment was being sought from Broad Construction.

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