AN accident at the Macarthur wind farm in which a man was hit by a falling three-kilogram piece of tubing has prompted a change in work procedures at the site.
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A Portland man, 24, was working on a tower at a height of about 50 metres in July this year when he was hit on the head and shoulder by the plastic tubing, which had fallen about 20 metres.
The man, an electrical subcontractor, briefly lost consciousness and suffered spinal injuries.
Paramedics and emergency services were called and stretchered the injured man down a ladder.
He was later taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.
A spokeswoman for WorkSafe told The Standard inspectors visited the site when the incident happened and carried out inquiries.
“New measures around how workers carry out work inside the towers were implemented following the incident,” she said.
At the time David Rook, from Macarthur police, said the man’s hard hat probably saved his life.
“This shows the importance of wearing safety equipment. It saved his life,” he said.
It took time and patience to get the man down the inside of the 50-metre tower, the policeman said.
cquirk@standard.fairfax.com.au
