A worker has tragically died after being crushed by a rotor blade from a wind turbine at the Golden Plains Wind Farm construction site in Rokewood, Victoria.
The incident occurred on the morning of Nov. 11 shortly after 8 a.m. when the blade fell at the east site of the project.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, the man was declared deceased at the scene.
Footage from 7News shows one of the turbines with a dislodged rotor blade lying near a crumpled ladder, while multiple emergency vehicles, including police, paramedics, and SES volunteers, attended the scene.
The company behind the project, TagEnergy, said in a statement that the site had been closed and they were working closely with emergency services and authorities.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” the company added.
A large area has been cordoned off with police tape as investigators examine the scene.
Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan expressed her condolences and reiterated the state’s commitment to workplace safety.
“Any accident in any workplace is indeed a deep concern and a tragedy,” she said.
The Golden Plains Wind Farm project, once completed, will become one of Australia’s largest wind farms, with 122 turbines set to be installed during the first stage. The development will be expanded to include another 93 turbines, with each one expected to stand as tall as 230 metres.
The wind farm is earmarked to generate enough power to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4.5 million tonnes annually, equivalent to 3 percent of the state’s total emissions.
This is not the first incident regarding worker safety that has occurred with the project.
“The Golden Plains turbines are fully made in China,” said Steven Nowakowski, an environmentalist in an interview with The Epoch Times.
He said there was a lack of adequate regulation around turbine safety.
“It’s a huge issue, it’s going to be an ongoing issue,” he said. “It does not surprise me as I’ve seen the sloppy workmanship.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Workers’ Union’s (AWU) State Secretary Ronnie Hayden calling for accountability.
“This devastating loss could have been prevented,” he told reporters.
“This is yet another worker killed on a Victorian worksite that demands answers.”
According to the Worksafe Victoria website, 37 lives have been lost this year due to workplace-related accidents. This figure stood at 62 at the same time last year. Police are preparing a coroner’s report into the case.
