Major energy company Elecnor has been caught out deliberately obstructing lawful entry onto one of its worksites in an effort to cover up unsafe practices which Safework NSW says could lead to workers being electrocuted.
Elecnor is in receipt of billions of dollars of state and federal funding for multiple renewable energy projects including Project Energy Connect.
An ETU organiser has been denied entry onto the construction site for Flyers Creek Wind Farm today located just under 30klm south of Orange in NSW.
Shortly after the attempted entry occurred as an ambulance was called to attend the site to evacuate an injured worker.
Elecnor’s attempt to involve police were unsuccessful when police realised the ETU organiser had a lawful right to visit the workplace.
The organiser was attempting to exercise a lawful Right of Entry to site after receiving multiple phone calls from workers onsite reporting unsafe working conditions had not been rectified since the ETU’s last visit to site a fortnight earlier.
The non-conformances had not been rectified.
Safework NSW have since issued a number of inspection notices highlighting the risk of electrocution of workers and directing Elecnor fails to take action.
ETU Acting National Secretary Michael Wright said Elecnor’s behaviour was unacceptable. “The ETU has a legal right of entry to ensure our members are safe in their workplaces.”
“Elecnor’s attempt to obstruct us in doing our job shows they have something to hide and that conditions are not safe” Mr Wright said.
“This is particularly unacceptable for a company so reliant on taxpayer money.”
Mr Wright said Elecnor’s behaviour is an example of why the Australian Senate must make multi-employer bargaining a reality.
“Multi-employer bargaining would significantly help to stamp out the poor safety standards workers are experiencing across the renewable sector”
“I’m calling on the Senate crossbench members to ensure we have multi-employer bargaining to achieve safer, fairer working conditions for our members.”
