Worker dies at Wellington North solar farm construction site in NSW

What happened

A 41-year-old man died at the Wellington North solar farm, under construction in the Orana region of New South Wales, on Wednesday 12 July 2023. NSW Police said emergency services were called to the site at Wuuluman on the Wednesday morning after reports that a worker had collapsed. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man at the scene but could not revive him. Police established a crime scene, which specialist police said would be examined, and a report is to be prepared for the Coroner.

The 425 MW project is being built under contract by GRS, the engineering, procurement and construction business of Gransolar, and the worker is believed to have been employed by GRS. Lightsource bp, which is developing the project, described the death as following a medical emergency and said it was supporting investigations by authorities and the principal contractor. Lightsource bp said it could not confirm further details while the police investigation was under way.

Contributing factors

Not yet established. Lightsource bp described the death as following a medical emergency. NSW Police described it as a workplace accident under investigation, and the cause is not confirmed in the source.

Lessons learned

1. Operators of remote construction sites should confirm that emergency access routes and first aid arrangements allow responders to reach a collapsed worker quickly.
2. Principal contractors should agree clear arrangements with police and the coroner for preserving the site and cooperating with investigations from the outset.
3. Suspected medical emergencies and workplace accidents should be recorded and investigated together until the cause is known, so that health and safety lessons are not lost.

More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, worker safety and safe systems of work, investigation and fleet-wide checks, from every incident on the register.

Source

reneweconomy.com.au