Teenage Tradesman Tragically Loses Life in Construction Site Accident during First Year of Employment

A chilling video predicted the safety problem of falling from scaffolding onto a concrete floor and steps at a construction site, where a young apprentice fell and was fatally injured.

Tyler Whittonwho had just turned 17 and was working as an apprentice builder, fell about three meters on a building site on Victoria Street in the inner-city suburb of West End at around 1.30pm on Tuesday, Brisbane.

He was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a serious condition, where he was put into an induced coma but could not be revived.

The Construction Forestry Maritime Mining And Energy Union (CFMEU) posted on social media on June 16 a video they had taken of an on-site inspection, saying a “massive fall from height” was a major safety issue.

“We fell from height along the edge of the building, right over the edge,” the video’s narrator said as he showed a several-metre fall from the scaffolding to the concrete floor and stairs.

The union said they were inspecting the location they captured video of because employees had contacted them that morning about safety concerns.

“Workers raised these concerns with the builder and told the CFMEU that they were not given time to clean the site or follow simple safety procedures,” the union said at the time.

On Wednesday, CFMEU State Secretary Michael Ravbar criticized Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for allowing work to continue at the site on Tuesday after Tyler was taken to hospital.

“After taking three hours for WHSQ to arrive, the developer was allowed to complete the concrete pour, despite the clearly identified risk of falls from height at a number of locations on the upper deck of the site,” he said.

‘All under the supervision of a broken regulator who should be managing health and safety in the workplace.’

Site developer CS Development Group has been contacted for comment.

A spokesperson for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) told Daily Mail Australian on Thursday that “inspectors were immediately dispatched to the workplace”.

“Inspectors have issued a no-disturbance declaration to secure the scene and have begun investigations,” the spokesperson said.

‘WHSQ understands that all work on site ceased immediately following the incident, except for pouring concrete at another part of the site. These activities ended approximately 30 minutes after WHSQ arrived on scene.

“Compliance notices have been issued requiring a number of high-risk issues to be resolved before operations can resume.”

The spokesman said inspectors had visited the site before Tuesday’s tragic accident.

“WHSQ’s proactive visit to the site on 28 June 2023 resulted in two enforcement notices being issued – not related to falls from height – which were complied with within the specified timeframe,” the spokesperson said.

“Outside of the current investigation, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland will continue to monitor the site for compliance with health and safety obligations.”

Meanwhile, Tyler’s grandfather Jack Whitton posted a heartbreaking tribute to him on Facebook.

“It is with a heavy heart and sadness that I say goodbye today to my beloved, beautiful grandson Tyler,” Mr Whitton wrote.

‘Words cannot describe the pain and complete numbness we all experience… knowing we had to let him go.’

Mr Whitton said he could not imagine the pain his son Luke, Tyler’s father, partner Letitia and Tyler’s mother Jess are going through.

“Tyler, you touched so many hearts with your life,” Mr. Whitton wrote.

“A parent or grandparent should never have to bury their child, and yet here we are.

“We will send Tyler on to his next journey with great love in our hearts.”