Union accuses wind turbine company of failing to follow safety warnings ahead of horror death at Golden Plains Wind Farm

Emergency services were called to Golden Plains Wind Farm in Rokewood, near Ballarat, about 8.15am after a man working on the Bells Road site was crushed under a fan blade.

Emergency responders attempted to resuscitate the 36-year-old man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Vestas Wind Systems, the renewable energy company that owns the wind farm, previously confirmed that the site was closed and that the company was working closely with emergency services and authorities.

Australian Workers Union secretary Ronnie Hayden slammed Vestas, claiming union representatives had met with company management just two weeks before Monday’s death to raise serious safety concerns about the Golden Plains Wind Farm.

“This devastating loss could have been prevented,” Hayden said.

“Just two weeks ago, union representatives from three different unions met with Vestas management to raise serious safety concerns. They told them that it was just dumb luck that no one had been killed on the spot yet.

“This is yet another worker murdered in a Victorian workplace that demands answers.”

Danny Nielsen, head of Vestas’ Australian operation, said the tragic incident occurred as crews were preparing to lift the blade from the ground.

“Vestas is devastated for the worker, his family and the entire team building the wind farm and we will do everything we can to support them at this terrible time,” Mr Nielsen told reporters.

Mr Hayden also called on the state government to intervene, stating that “WorkSafe and the Victorian Government cannot stand by while workers die”.

“We need more than just investigations and reports, we need immediate action for on-site safety and stronger enforcement of regulations.” “This isn’t just a statistic, this is an employee who went to work and never came home,” he said.

‘How many more families have to lose their loved ones before WorkSafe and the Victorian Government take real action? We are tired of hollow investigations and paperwork while workers are murdered.

‘If bosses cut back on safety and workers die, they belong behind bars – it’s that simple.

“We fought hard for industrial manslaughter laws, but they are collecting dust as the bodies pile up. This isn’t just negligence anymore; it’s criminal, and it’s time we start treating it that way .”

CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith echoed the sentiment of his fellow union boss, revealing that his union also reported multiple safety concerns about Vestas.

“Large multinationals with poor international security records need to know they cannot bring these practices into Australia,” Smith said.

“If they are operating in this country, we will hold them accountable and fight tooth and nail to defend our hard-won workplace safety standards,” Smith said.

SkyNews.com.au has contacted Vestas for comment.