John Holland charged over Sydney Metro tunnel works serious injuries
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has filed a single charge against construction company John Holland Pty Ltd, alleging the company failed in its primary health and safety duty under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act.
The charge relates to an 11 September 2024 incident that occurred in a section of the Eastern Tunnelling Package at Rozelle. Workers were installing additional components that added weight to a heavy electrical distribution board when the board dislodged from the tunnel wall.
An electrician employed by John Holland, the principal contractor for the project, sustained a fractured left shoulder which required surgery and ongoing rehabilitation after the 450-kilogram board fell on him.
The distribution board fell because bolts different from those specified in safety instructions for the job were allegedly used to fasten it to the tunnel wall, Comcare’s investigation found.
Comcare said it will be alleged John Holland failed to minimise risks to health and safety, including carrying out a site validation to confirm the correct bolts were used to secure the distribution board before workers carried out modifications.
The charge is a Category 2 offence under the act, carrying a maximum penalty of $2.32 million. John Holland Pty Ltd is a licenced national employer in the Comcare scheme and subject to regulation under Commonwealth WHS laws.
The matter is listed for mention in Downing Centre Local Court on 27 October 2026.
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