Thousands protest for safer worksites amid claims of rising heat stress
ABC News
February 15 2024


The CFMEU says one worker has died and more than 20 others have been hospitalised since Christmas due to heat-related illness and injury
A large union protest was held outside state parliament today
What's next? Construction workers want the state government to enact a heat stress code of practice for outdoor and high-risk work
Thousands of workers have rallied outside Queensland parliament over the death of a Cross River Rail worker.

The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) said Daniel Sa'u, a 29-year-old labour hire worker, died of heat stress after working at the Cross River Rail Salisbury site in late December last year.   

There has been no official ruling on his cause of death.

Union leaders told protesters 25 other workers "had been hospitalised" due to heat stress since Christmas.   

Workers at the protest called for the resignation of Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace.

The union is calling for the Queensland government to introduce an "effective heat stress code of practice for outdoor and high-risk work".


Mr Sa'u's wife Jeraldine said it has been a "difficult time" for the grieving family since her husband died on December 28.

"My darling Daniel didn't come home safely from work," she said.

"Seeing in the New Year, which should have been a time to reflect what was 2023 and what was to be our hopes and dreams for the coming year was instead replaced with grief and loss."

She said Mr Sa'u was her soulmate, a wonderful father to their three children, a loving son, and missed by all of his family and friends.

"As hard as it is for me to talk about it, there are reasons that I am doing that — firstly to speak out as to help raise awareness to implement change, to prevent this from happening to another family."

Call for heat stress code of conduct
Union delegates were expecting to meet with members of the state government this afternoon.

CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar told the rally Queensland workers have had "a gutful" of their colleagues being harmed at work.

"We call on the government to immediately design and implement an heat stroke code of practice for high-risk workers for outdoors for the heat stress," he said.

In state parliament, Transport Minister Bart Mellish said nothing was more important than ensuring every worker went home safely to their family every day.

He said the government expects all contractors to actively reduce the risk of any incidents happening on work sites.


"I've made it clear to the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Queensland Rail and Transport and Main Roads, that I expect the highest safety standards to be upheld," Mr Mellish said. 

He also pointed out that south-east Queensland had experienced extreme summer weather, including several heatwaves.

"In relation to Cross River Rail, heat is managed on site every day," he said.

"Workers are reminded daily that there are shade shelters, air-conditioned crib rooms, chilled water and heat monitors available on site.

"This government will always be prioritising workers' safety and I'll be reiterating to our agencies and contractors that this must be our number one priority."