March 23, 2017
The South Burnett Regional Council will help Workplace Health and Safety officers investigate the circumstances that led to a contractor being seriously injured on Tuesday.
The contractor was an employee of AFP Excavations and Demolition, who had been engaged to demolish Ennis Bridge near Brooklands.
He was driving a 23.5 tonne excavator which plunged through the bridge when timbers gave way, landing upside-down in Barker Creek after a seven metre fall.
The injured worker was later airlifted from the site to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The bridge formerly connect Goodger Gully Road to the Nanango-Brooklands Road, but the Council confirmed it closed the bridge about 10 years ago for structural reasons.
In the interest of public safety, Council recently approved the bridge’s demolition.
It then engaged a contractor with experience in timber bridge demolition.
“This is an unfortunate accident and Council will assist the investigation,” a Council spokesperson said.
“The site has been barricaded off from public access as the remaining structure is unstable.
“Council advises that there is no unauthorised access to the site, and ask that the community avoid the location if possible.”
- Related article: Excavator Driver Hurt As Bridge Fails
