Goldwind Australia has been slammed by a trade union after three workers were injured in a single-vehicle rollover at White Rock Wind Farm on Monday night.
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Two were rushed to hospital while a third worker, a 22-year-old man, was flown to Tamworth Base Hospital with spinal injuries and internal bleeding after their ute rolled 30 metres down an embankment.
Trade union, CFMEU, slammed the wind power giant on Tuesday, accusing them of unsafe work practices.
CFMEU organiser Dean Rielly said they had been warning Goldwind management about safety concerns at the wind farm for some time –highlighting the need for hard barriers at embankments.
“We have repeatedly told management there needed to be hard barriers along the service roads at the embankments,” he said.
“We have been outspoken about the complete lack of respect for safety standards on the windfarm, but management have chosen to ignore us.
“Rather than be proactive and address safety concerns that had been raised, management sat on their hands and we now have three workers injured – one seriously – as a result of their incompetence.”
...We now have three workers injured – one seriously – as a result of their incompetence.
- Dean Rielly
Mr Rielly said the accident highlighted the need for improved safety standards in regional NSW and why the union had been undertaking a safety blitz to protect workers on construction sites.
Monday’s incident is the second reported accident in two months which has seen the Westpac Rescue Helicopter tasked to the wind farm.
In April, a 43-year-old man was flown to Tamworth Hospital suffering a compound fractured ankle.
He was reported to be in a stable condition.
The Examiner has contacted Goldwind Australia and are awaiting a response.