Accusations have been flung at managers of an oil and gas project in the Northern Territory over safety incidents on site.

Unions say Inpex and JKC Australia LNG – the backers of the Ichthys onshore project near Darwin – have covered up and not reported work safety incidents on site.

They say the failure to report incidents as ‘lost time injury’ indicates “deep problems with the project and its work culture”.

Most recently, a worker was pinned between an elevated work platform and a second surface in September, and had to be taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital as a result.

Electrical Trades Union organiser Paul Kirby has alleged that it was the latest in a series of incidents that resulted in the hospitalisation of workers, but were not reported by project management.

“We are aware of at least four previous safety incidents where workers were hospitalised for days, but that were not reported as lost time injuries,” said Mr Kirby.

“Workers have been burned, seriously lacerated and have sustained long-term back injuries, but the company doesn’t seem to care enough to maintain basic safety reporting procedures.

“We have even had workers being pressured to read paperwork while they were in hospital so contractors can claims that they were working.”

Mr Kirby claims the unions are finding it hard to even appoint health and safety officers on the site.

“When union officials have visited the sites to investigate safety concerns, they have been prevented from accessing areas where breaches were alleged, and even physically restrained,” he said.

“That is despite the law providing us with the right to unimpeded access to investigate safety issues.

He said the culture of secrecy is “endangering the health and lives of workers on the project,” and investors are taking notice.

“Investors know that is a project puts safety first, that’s a good indicator that it’s a healthy prospect. But if they’re covering injuries up so that management can look good and meet targets, it rings alarm bells.”

The company has denied the claims, telling reporters that safety is their priority.