Details emerge on wind farm death amid law scrutiny

Unions have called for a review of industrial manslaughter laws after a wind farm worker was killed. (HANDOUT/ABC NEWS)

A turbine blade dislodged from a supporting platform before killing a wind farm contractor in an incident that has prompted scrutiny of Victoria's industrial manslaughter laws.

WorkSafe is investigating after the 36-year-old man died at the Golden Plains Wind Farm project just before 8am on Monday.

Several blades were at ground level being prepared for a lift when one of them dislodged from a supporting platform. 

WorkSafe investigators, technical experts and dedicated renewable energies construction inspectors remain on site.

Premier Jacinta Allan said she had no advice on whether the laws needed to be strengthened.

"We have a we have a strong regime in place," she told reporters.

"It's still very early in that investigation, and right now, our focus and support should be on the loved ones of the man who was killed."

All Australian states and territories have industrial manslaughter laws in place.

Victoria introduced its laws in 2020 and includes up to 25 years in prison for employees found responsible for worker deaths.

The Australian Workers Union slammed Vestas, the Danish wind giant delivering the project, for engaging non-unionised workers for dangerous on-site jobs, and said delegates had reported a number of safety concerns at the project.

The AWU, along with the CFMEU and the Electrical Trades Union, had raised these concerns with Vestas only weeks before the tragedy.

Australian Workers Union Victoria Secretary Ronnie Hayden said industrial manslaughter laws were gathering dust.

"There's 298 workers killed in Victoria since industrial manslaughter laws came in and nobody's doing anything about it," Mr Hayden told ABC Radio on Monday.

"When bosses cut corners on safety and workers die, they belong behind bars. It's that simple."

Australian Workers Union Victoria Ronnie Hayden (file image)
AWU Victoria Secretary Ronnie Hayden says industrial manslaughter laws are gathering dust.

It was a sentiment echoed by CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith.

"Large multinationals with terrible international safety records need to know that they can’t bring those practices to Australia," he said.

At a press conference on Monday, Vestas Australia and New Zealand boss Danny Nielsen said safety was the organisation's number one priority, but would not confirm the union claims.

He said the company was helping authorities with its inquiries.

The project has been temporarily halted to make way for the investigation.

The Golden Plains Wind Farm project is slated to be the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere, and once completed would generate around nine per cent of Victoria's current energy demand.

The death is the 38th confirmed workplace fatality for 2024 compared to 62 at the same time last year.

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