A WorkSafe spokesman said there was a risk of a ''serious incident'' at the site due to a general lack of supervision of workers by builder Thiess-Degremont. ''Work wasn't being co-ordinated well, creating an environment if there was a safety failing it may have resulted in a serious incident,'' the spokesman said.

There were also a number of other safety issues that could cause ''significant risk'' such as people working underneath boom lifts. After three WorkSafe inspectors raised the issues with Thiess on Wednesday the company ''voluntarily agreed'' to stop work on the reverse osmosis plant -
a key part of the project - until the issues were rectified. The builder was also issued with an improvement notice.
Thiess-Degremont spokeswoman Serena Middleton said the company took quick action. ''We voluntarily stopped work in the area and took immediate action to address the issues raised by WorkSafe. Work is resuming as these issues are closed out,'' she said.

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