Steel Worker Injured by 200kg Gear at BlueScope

ABC Illawarra

Workplace accidents

Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 5:58 am

Wednesday, 22 July 2026, 7:50 am

The workplace safety regulator found many safety issues at BlueScope Steel's blast furnace.

In short:

A union is very worried about safety at BlueScope.

There have been six incidents with falling tools and materials since a worker died.

What's next?

SafeWork NSW is investigating incidents at BlueScope, which may take two years.

Australia's biggest steel project has many safety issues after a worker died.

BlueScope Steel spent $1.15 billion on a new blast furnace.

A contractor, Jack McGrath, died when a beam fell on him in November 2025.

Since his death, there have been six dangerous incidents and a worker was hospitalized.

A union organizer, Stuart Edward, is worried about the safety issues at BlueScope.

Stuart Edward thinks there is a big problem with safety at BlueScope.

Jack McGrath died while working at BlueScope in November 2025.

Inspections increased after a worker died

A 25-year-old worker, Jack McGrath, died when a crane failed.

He was a union member and worked at BlueScope.

The company's CEO said the incident was very sad.

SafeWork NSW is still investigating the matter and gave BlueScope improvement notices.

The regulator increased inspections at BlueScope in February.

BlueScope is upgrading one of its blast furnaces.

Three months later, BlueScope reported two safety issues with falling building supplies.

SafeWork NSW wrote to BlueScope about another safety issue with a falling steel plate.

A 3-kilogram steel plate fell from a walkway and went through a roof.

No one was hurt in the May incidents.

SafeWork NSW met with BlueScope to talk about the safety issues.

There were three more safety incidents with falling items in June.

BlueScope Steel is in Port Kembla, in the Illawarra industrial area.

A worker was hurt by a 200kg drive gear

SafeWork ordered BlueScope to stop work on a project due to safety issues.

A contractor dropped a hammer from 4 meters high.

A Ventia contractor was hospitalized after a 200kg drive gear fell on him.

All the safety issues reported to SafeWork NSW involve falling objects.

The union organizer said the outcome of these incidents could have been much worse.

The organizer is worried about the heavy objects falling and hurting people.

BlueScope recognized the recent safety issues but did not give details.

BlueScope is working with SafeWork NSW and focusing on safety controls.

BlueScope will not comment on individual incidents or regulatory matters.

A blast furnace makes molten iron from iron ore and coal.

BlueScope did not answer questions about complying with SafeWork orders.

SafeWork NSW did not comment on the total number of incidents at BlueScope.

Billion-dollar project delayed, unions say

The unions say the safety issues have delayed the project until April 2027.

BlueScope did not comment on the project timeline.

The union organizer said the safety issues will cause delays in the project.

The organizer thinks the regulator has not been tough enough.

The organizer thinks the regulator's actions have not changed BlueScope's behavior.

The union thinks the safety standards have been lowered due to lack of enforcement.

SafeWork NSW is taking a proactive approach to monitoring safety at BlueScope.

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