A worker’s fatality at the Golden Plains Wind Farm in Rokewood, Victoria, has ignited fierce criticism from the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) over workplace safety practices.
The incident, which occurred this morning, has been described as preventable by union officials.
Ronnie Hayden, AWU Victoria State Secretary, expressed extreme frustration and anger over the fatality.
“This devastating loss could have been prevented,” Hayden stated, revealing that just two weeks prior, delegates from three different unions had met with Vestas management to raise serious safety concerns.
The tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of mounting safety issues at the project.
The AWU has repeatedly voiced concerns about increased pressure on workers due to significant project delays.
Of particular concern is Vestas’ decision to engage non-unionised contractors for some of the most dangerous work on-site, a practice that union officials claim has contributed to both safety risks and project timeline issues.
AWU delegates and organisers have identified a concerning pattern of inadequate supervision across the work site.
They allege that Vestas has attempted to transfer its safety obligations onto subcontractors who lack the necessary training and resources to manage complex safety requirements.
This delegation of critical safety responsibilities without proper oversight has reportedly created dangerous gaps in safety protocols.
Hayden called for immediate action, stating: “WorkSafe and the Victorian government cannot continue to stand by while workers die. We need more than just investigations and reports, we need immediate action on site safety and stronger enforcement of regulations.”
The union leader emphasised the human cost of workplace accidents, stating: “This is not just another statistic, this is a worker who went to work and never came home.”
He questioned how many more families would need to lose loved ones before authorities take real action.
In a strong statement, Hayden called for criminal accountability for workplace safety negligence.
“When bosses cut corners on safety and workers die, they belong behind bars — it’s that simple,” he said.
The AWU is pushing for the enforcement of industrial manslaughter laws, which Hayden claims are “gathering dust while bodies pile up”.
As investigations into the incident have begun, the tragedy has reignited debates about workplace safety standards and the enforcement of regulations in high-risk industries.
