A tragic incident occurred at the Golden Plains Windfarm in regional Victoria on Monday, where a man lost his life after being crushed by a turbine blade.
The victim, a subcontractor, was working at the site on Bells Road in Rokewood, approximately 133 kilometers west of Melbourne.
According to Victoria Police, the accident took place just after 8 a.m. while the turbine blade, being prepared for installation, fell and fatally injured the worker.
Vestas, the Danish energy company constructing the wind farm, confirmed the fatality and expressed condolences to the worker’s family. The company stated that the site had been shut down temporarily for investigations into the accident.
Safety concerns raised following a fatal accident at Victoria’s Golden Plains Windfarm construction site.The turbine blades involved in the project are reported to be more than 80 meters long, underscoring the scale and potential risks associated with such operations.
The Australian Workers Union (AWU) has raised alarms over safety conditions at the wind farm.
The union’s Victoria state secretary, Ronnie Hayden, disclosed that safety concerns had been brought to Vestas’ attention, particularly concerning the pressure workers face due to delays in the project.
Hayden noted that delegates had warned management that it was “only dumb luck” that a fatality hadn’t occurred earlier.
This incident highlights the inherent dangers in large-scale construction projects, particularly those involving heavy machinery and components.
As the investigation continues, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent safety measures in workplaces, especially in high-risk industries like wind energy.
While the sector is integral to the transition to renewable energy, ensuring worker safety must remain a priority to prevent further tragedies.