Union officials have shared footage taken at Canadian Solar’s Suntop Solar Farm in the NSW Central West where it shows a shipping container being lifted over a portable site office/lunch room by a crane while people are inside.
A statement from the Electrical Trades Union says while multiple complaints were made to the company running the site, Bouygues Construction Australia, the matter was “covered up and not reported to SafeWork NSW”.
Watch the video below.
The union also said workers have complained about unsanitary conditions on site, including mice eating food and poor toilet and fridge conditions.
“Workers have also complained of no access to fresh drinking water and have been forced to sit outside in the heat and dust, with no undercover amenities provided,” the statement reads.
Electrical Trades Union, NSW & ACT Branch Deputy Secretary Allen Hicks said an exclusion zone should have been set up for the operation involving the shipping container, which was being lifted by a mobile crane.
“Instead, our members weren’t told it was happening and were shocked to realise a shipping container, which could easily crush them, was being moved right over their heads,” he said.
“Multiple complaints have been made but instead of making improvements, the company terminated the health and safety representative on this site.
“Clearly, basic safety standards are not being enforced and breaches are being swept under the rug.
“Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean and the NSW Government need to urgently intervene to make sure clean energy’s dirty secret doesn’t lead to dead bodies.”
A spokesperson for Bouygues Construction Australia said the health and safety of its workplace is its number one priority.
“We have been made aware of an incident that happened on Suntop Solar Farm on Tuesday,” the spokesperson said.
“We can report that no one has been injured as a result of this matter. We notified SafeWork NSW (Dubbo office) in due time and the allegations towards the notification delay are untrue. We also reject the suggestion that the facilities are in poor state.
“Every worker is authorised and encouraged to stop work if they believe an activity is unsafe and raise any safety concerns with their supervisor or Health and Safety representative.
“The project is committed to the health and safety of our workforce. We are investigating the matter and are in close contact with SafeWork NSW.”
