An ongoing inquiry into a militant union has heard its "systematic bullying, intimidation, and abuse" leeched into the department charged with keeping its members safe.
Queensland’s Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU resumed on Tuesday, with four former or current Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors set to give evidence.
However, one had to be excused on medical advice before the witnesses could take the stand.
David Cappelletti, a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland principal inspector, had been summoned to give evidence but was too stressed, the inquiry was told.
Mr Cappelletti's appearance was excused, but counsel assisting Patrick Wheelahan said his doctor would be cross-examined before the medical advice was accepted by commissioner Stuart Wood.
Mr Wheelahan said the inspectors will give evidence that a culture of bullying, intimidation and harassment of inspectors was driven by the CFMEU.
The commission heard bizarre claims that workplace health inspectors felt so threatened by CFMEU members, they complained that their own workplace was unsafe.
"Sorry, the inspectors nominated their own inspector who then inspected their own worksite and issued a cease unsafe work order for themselves because of what the CFMEU had allegedly done?," Commissioner Stuart Wood asked.
"That's correct," Mr Wheelahan said.
Disgruntled inspectors also lodged a formal complaint in 2022 against former minister Grace Grace over the CFMEU's influence on the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, signed by 14 existing and current inspectors.
It alleged years of systematic bullying, intimidation and abuse from CFMEU officials drove many from the industry.
"Many construction inspectors to this day have been professionally diagnosed with chronic mental health issues requiring long-term professional medical intervention, resulting in many inspectors unable to gain future employment in any capacity," the complaint alleged.
"The consequence of this loss is immeasurable."
It had severely reduced the capacity and ability of inspectors to deliver fair, professional, impartial and independent educational, compliance and enforcement services to the Queensland public, it said.
The Crime and Corruption Commission found no evidence of a criminal offence, the inquiry was told.
The inquiry was also told that former principal inspector and current operations manager Deborah Dargan complained about CFMEU misconduct in 2022 and was warned the situation would not change, and that she could "accept it or leave”.
"The cumulative pressure from CFMEU interactions and lack of support from management caused me significant psychological harm," Ms Dargan said in her submission.
"I felt I was being dismissed or 'gaslit' when raising concerns.
"These factors had such an impact on me that I would return home from work and then immediately go to bed, leaving the house only to care for my children by undertaking tasks such as taking them to school sport where I would often sleep in my car."
The Queensland government called the inquiry in July after allegations of thuggery at the state's CFMEU branch.
The CFMEU was put into administration nationwide in 2024 amid claims bikies and organised crime figures had infiltrated the organisation.
