Darrin Blanche remembered as kind, loveable man after Tarong workplace death

Friends and family are gathering to remember a loveable larrikin who died when a bulldozer rolled while at a construction site near the Tarong Power Station.

Darrin Blanche has been remembered as a loveable prankster after he lost his life in a workplace tragedy at a construction site beside the Tarong Power Station.

The 55-year-old Glen Innes man was working at a Powerlink site beside the power station, building high voltage power lines, when a bulldozer rolled and crushed him.

Mr Blanche suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.

Julie Everson took to social media to pay tribute to Mr Blanche, saying he was loved by all.

“We lost our beloved brother, son, father and uncle,” she said.

“His love of life was as big as his cheeky smile.

“We have all shared in his mischievousness, jokes and pranks.

“He had a heart of gold and leaves a hole in ours knowing he has gone.”

Glen Innes man Darrin Blanche died when a bulldozer rolled at a construction site near the Tarong Power Station.

A service marking Mr Blanche’s life will be held at the Club Hotel in Glen Innes at 12pm on Saturday.

The notice triggered an outpouring of grief and support.

“I will miss the stir ups big fulla, rest easy my friend until we meet again,” Damien Gee said.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating the matter, assisted by police from the Forensic Crash Unit.

A Powerlink spokesman said the company was looking into the death.

“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and colleagues,” he said.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating the circumstances around Darrin Blanche’s death.

“Powerlink considers providing a safe working environment for its employees, contractors and the public as essential. We will co-operate with the appropriate authorities.”

The chief inspector for the state’s resources sector, the Resources Safety and Health Queensland, has called for improved safety standards after the incident.

“It is so tragic to hear about an incident recently involving the rollover of a dozer,” Jacques le Roux said.

“We’ve seen a significant amount of these incidents in our industry and it’s so important that we improve dozer safety in Queensland.”

The chief inspector put forward a number of ways dozer incidents could be prevented in the future, including edge protection and wearing seatbelts.