The death of a 17-year-old construction apprentice has ignited calls for a safety overhaul.

Tyler Whitton fell at a West End construction site last week, sustaining a critical head injury before he succumbed to his injuries the following day.

Tyler was in his first year of his apprenticeship, and his untimely death has been described as an “enormous tragedy for someone so young”. 

The incident followed the death of a surveyor at Victoria Point earlier in the week, underscoring the urgency of addressing safety concerns in the industry.

Michael Ravbar, Construction Forestry Maritime Mining And Energy Union (CFMEU) Queensland spokesperson, says Tyler Whitton's death could have been prevented. 

“We've had a shocking week in Queensland in regards to fatalities in this state. I've been around for a number of years, but this is probably the worst fatality I've ever seen,” he said. 

CS Development Group (CSDG), the company responsible for the West End construction site, has halted work and is providing counselling to affected workers. 

A CSDG spokesperson expressed condolences to the worker's family and affirmed the company's commitment to safety, with two full-time safety staff employed. 

The company says it is cooperating with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland's investigation into the incident.

The tragedy has prompted the CFMEU to call upon the Queensland government for immediate action. 

Ravbar criticised the government for its perceived lack of proactive measures.

“It's unfortunate that you have to have these tragic events to get the government's attention,” he Ravbar said.

“Governments who are progressive, proactive, and actually have strong leadership from the top down prevent these things.

“You've got a government, you've got a regulator, they're accountable, they're responsible, they've got a job to do for the community of workers in this state, and they have failed us miserably.”

This incident follows a social media post by the union, exposing alleged “unsafe practices” at the CS Development Group's site. Workers had allegedly raised concerns about prioritising productivity over safety.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) officials have initiated an investigation into the incidents.