In a significant setback for Australia’s largest renewable energy project, all underground operations at Snowy 2.0 have been suspended following a catastrophic equipment failure that narrowly avoided causing worker fatalities.
The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) reported that in the early hours of Tuesday, an industrial-sized ventilation fan, approximately 2.5 metres in diameter, malfunctioned catastrophically, sending dangerous metal shrapnel flying through the air.
Fortunately, no workers were in the immediate vicinity at the time of the incident.
This latest safety concern comes just a month after work was halted due to issues with underground refuge chambers, which were found to be inoperable and not properly maintained.
AWU NSW Secretary Tony Callinan emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating: “This latest incident represents a significant near-miss that could have resulted in workers being killed.
“Had anyone been in the path of this high-velocity shrapnel, we would be discussing fatalities rather than equipment failure.”
Following the incident, SafeWork NSW conducted an urgent assessment of the site, resulting in the issuance of six prohibition notices affecting all ventilation fans at the project.
Inspections revealed other fans in various states of disrepair, with missing bolts and other maintenance issues documented.
The AWU is demanding comprehensive inspections of all ventilation equipment by the original manufacturers before allowing workers to return to the underground portions of the project.
Callinan expressed frustration with the project’s management, stating: “Tunnelling is a dangerous industry but, Snowy 2.0 management just can’t seem to get the basics right, it’s the worst project I have seen in 20 years as an AWU Organiser.”
He called for accountability at senior management levels, citing ongoing failures to provide a safe workplace and years of serious safety issues being raised.
The Snowy 2.0 project, which has already faced significant delays and cost overruns since construction began in 2019, is now under increased scrutiny regarding its maintenance protocols and safety oversight.
As the AWU continues to advocate for rigorous safety standards in major infrastructure projects, the future of Snowy 2.0 remains uncertain, with worker safety taking centre stage in discussions about the project’s viability and management.