A worker has reportedly sustained serious leg injuries on Barrow Island off the coast of Western Australia from an accident involving a crane.
According to the ABC, the worker’s legs were crushed in the incident which happened last Wednesday, just prior to Cyclone Olwyn reaching the north west coast of WA.
Chevron has been constructing facilities for their massive Gorgon gas project on Barrow Island since 2010. The company claims the project is now 90 per cent complete.
Comcare has confirmed that they are aware of the accident and that investigations into the cause were underway.
Last Thursday the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU ) accused Chevron of putting the safety of workers at risk by not evacuating personnel from Barrow Island in the lead up to the approach of Cyclone Olwyn.
Workers were forced to sleep on blow-up mattresses on the floor of the project’s common area in conditions a union representative described as “appalling”.
However a spokesperson for Chevron said the company was following standard procedure for a cyclone event.
“We understand there will be some inconveniences as with any significant weather event, however Chevron Australia places the highest priority on the health and safety of its employers and contractors and has a rigorous cyclone preparation plan in place,” the statement said.
Bad news