Claims have emerged that a worker at a Brisbane racecourse walked off the job over safety concerns just days before two fathers were crushed to death in a tragic accident.
A union official said he'd received a chilling phone call Friday morning from a rigger claiming to have quit work on the Eagle Farm Racecourse redevelopment days earlier because of safety concerns.
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Workers killed at racecourse
Two men are killed after an eight tonne slab of concrete falls on them at Eagle Farm Racecourse. 7 News Queensland
"I got a phone call this morning, I'm waiting for the guy to ring me back," CFMEU workplace health and safety coordinator Andrew Ramsay said.
"He alleges he was on the job in the last few days and he left because he said someone's going to die here."
Little more than 12 hours earlier, "family man" Ashley Morris, 34 and fellow father Humberto Leite, 55, lost their lives when a concrete slab fell, crushing them both.Â
As his immediate family mourned privately on Friday, a previous employer of Mr Morris remembered him as a family man who left an impression on everyone he met.
"He was a well respected guy within the industry. He's a good lad," Steve Pamenter said.
"Every time he met someone, he sort of left an impression on them and kept in touch.Â
"When you work within the construction industry it hits home a little bit."
The steel fixer, concreter and formworker left behind a partner, 4-year-old child, a toddler reportedly still struggling to grasp the idea of his dad's death and a father and sister still asking for answers.
Police and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland were carrying out dual investigations with multiple extra resources and the accident site remained a crime scene with guards in place overnight.
Both were refusing to comment on what caused the tragedy but Mr Ramsay said after visiting the site and speaking to witnesses he had a "fair idea" of what happened.
He blamed corner cutting in bracing the concrete slabs after they were placed into an excavated pit on the site for the two contractors' deaths.
According to Mr Ramsay, three of four slabs had been placed in the hole when one fell to the ground.Â
"It looks like the guys in the hole have got back onto the panel that's fallen down and another one's come down and crushed them," he said.
There was no emergency plan or exit from the hole, meaning the men were effectively trapped, he said.
Contrary to early reports from the paramedics, Mr Ramsay said the fourth panel hanging from a waiting crane had nothing to do with the accident.
No one at head contractor Criscon was answering the phone on Friday and the CFMEU declined to name the subcontractor responsible for the rigging.
Mr Ramsay called for reforms including the introduction of the offence of "industrial manslaughter" to make contractors "think twice" before cutting corners.
"We just don't understand how stuff like this can still happen in this day and age," he said.
"It certainly makes another call for industrial manslaughter very very strong."
The two men's deaths left the Brisbane racing community in mourning, reflecting on one of the saddest days in its 150-plus year history.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland warned a full report to the Coroner could take months to prepare but Brisbane Racing Club was hoping for initial answers within a week.
"If the investigation reveals evidence of a breach under the WHS Act 2011, WHSQ will then consider what action should be taken against those duty holders," a WHSQ spokesman said.
In the midst of National Safe Work Month, Racing Minister Grace Grace said she was working with the construction industry and unions to review rules around site safety.
"We will ensure that no stone is left unturned," Ms Grace promised.
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