Hay Australia halts operations at Bridgewater plant after worker death

‘He was an experienced and highly valued member of our team and our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with his family, loved ones and colleagues’.

A Victoria Police spokesman said emergency services were called to the workplace on the Calder Highway at 12.30pm after reports of an injured man.

Hay Australia has stopped operations at its Bridgewater plant after a worker died on Monday in a suspected workplace accident.

A Hay Australia spokeswoman confirmed one of its workers had been involved in a serious incident at the facility on the Calder Highway, 38km north-west of Bendigo on February 1.

“He was an experienced and highly valued member of our team and our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with his family, loved ones and colleagues,” she said.

“We are doing everything we can to provide them with support at this very difficult time.”

Police and paramedics attended the fatal workplace incident, and WorkSafe Victoria is now leading the investigation.

The Hay Australia spokeswoman said it was co-operating fully with the relevant authorities.

“All work at our facility has been halted until further notice and the plant is now in the hands of relevant authorities,” she said.

She said further announcements would be made as additional information becomes available.

The Western Australia based company opened its Bridgewater facility in 2014.