After saying that Australian construction workers are “soft” for quitting their jobs when inclement weather strikes, an Irishman has drawn criticism.
As he strolled around an abandoned construction site that seemed to have been closed for the day, Ian Dowling expressed his inability to comprehend why work had been paused.”I’ve learned one thing about Aussies as an Irish lad working in the construction industry in Australia: they’re going very soft,” he remarked. They are afraid of the rain. They go out the door and into the pub as soon as a few spits come out of the sky, and they claim to adore the water. They’re all about surfing, but they’re f****g scared of water raining out of the sky.
It makes sense that Mr. Dowling was taken aback by Australians’ unwillingness to labour in the rain, given that he hails from chilly and rainy Ireland.
However, he even went so far as to criticise tradies for putting down the tools after the temperature hit 38C, which is a standard union agreement on many construction sites nationwide.
“They’ll go home if it gets too hot,” Mr. Dowling stated.
Australian construction workers are soft 🌦🇺👷♂️ #construction #irish #constructionlife #fyp #funny
As Ian Dowling strolled about an abandoned construction site that seemed to have been closed for the day, he expressed his inability to comprehend why work had been paused.
This building site would be crowded if it were in Ireland with this much rain. Some guys would have their shirts off.
Mr. Dowling even proposed that Australia’s housing shortage was caused by people’s unwillingness to labour in the heat and rain.
“They pack up the utes every time a drip falls out of the sky,” he remarked.
Under WHS regulations, employers must manage the hazards of heat stress, which may involve halting work before 38C depending on humidity and workload.
The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining, and Energy Union (CFMEU) declared in January 2025 that its members had the right to cease work when the temperature hit 35 degrees Celsius.
According to the union, employees must be moved out of direct sunlight when temperatures fall below 35 degrees Celsius because this poses a major risk to their health and safety.
After expressing his opinions about Australian labour on TikTok, Mr. Dowling received backlash.
“Try rendering or concreting in the rain.” One person commented, “It just doesn’t work.”
Are Australian tradespeople’s safety regulations in severe weather justified, or should they become more rigid?
Mr. Dowling even made fun of tradies for putting down the tools when the temperature hit 38 degrees Celsius, which is a standard union agreement on many construction sites across the nation (stock image). Another said, “Power tools are not waterproof.”
A third person added, “You’re more than welcome to stay mate and keep working.”
Some even questioned whether he was a true craftsman, asking, “As a bricklayer, why is your work gear so clean?”One questioned.
In a follow-up video, Mr. Dowling reiterated his remarks, saying, “To make it up to everyone, especially the lads that are getting upset, I’m going to Bunnings this afternoon and I’m going to get a pallet of cement bags. You can have a little spoon of that (cement) every morning…and harden the f*** up.”
