A man has died following a tragedy at a wind farm in Rokewood, Victoria, 132 kilometers west of Melbourne.
Emergency services were called to the scene after the man was injured by a wind turbine blade.
Police say the man was crushed by fan blades. on the golden plains wind farm on Bells Road around 8am.
First responders attempted to resuscitate the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene, a death which the Australian Workers Union (AWU) said “could have been prevented”.
images of 7news It showed three turbines, two of which appeared to be supported by a metal structure.
The third sword seemed to have fallen from the structure that held it, and there was also a crumpled ladder on the ground next to a large sword.
“The site has been closed and we are working closely with the emergency services and authorities,” Vestas, the company that owns the wind farm, said in a statement on Monday morning.
But Ronnie Hayden, AWU Victoria state secretary, said: “This devastating loss could have been avoided.”
A man dies after an accident at a wind farm in Victoria. The scene is represented
There is also a crumpled ladder (pictured) on the ground next to a large leaf.
“Just two weeks ago, shop stewards from three different unions met with Vestas management to raise serious concerns about safety, telling them it was pure luck that no one had died at the site yet,” Mr Hayden said.
He added: “We need more than just investigations and reports: we need immediate action on site security and stricter enforcement of regulations.”
Several emergency services vehicles were seen at the scene, including an ambulance, a fire truck and police officers.
Workers wearing high-visibility clothing and helmets were at the scene, along with police, paramedics and SES volunteers.
Some distraught workers gathered in a nearby meadow after the tragedy.
Aerial images of the site also show a large area cordoned off with police tape.
The wind turbine was reportedly under construction.
The top of the turbine was inserted over the weekend, and the blades are usually added in the following days, Ballarat News reported.
Wind turbine blades can weigh up to 22 tons.
The wind farm, which the company’s website said would become the largest in Australia, has been closed while investigations continue.
The police have closed the road to the place.
WorkSafe Victoria is investigating the incident.
“This is not just another statistic, this is a worker who went to work and never came home,” Mr Hayden said.
“How many more families need to lose their loved ones before WorkSafe and the Victorian Government take real action?”