Underground work on Snowy 2.0 project halted by ‘flying shrapnel’

Snowy Hydro has sought an immediate safety review after a 2.5m ventilation fan malfunctioned, sending dangerous metal shrapnel flying through the air.

Underground work has been halted on the Snowy Hydro 2.0 project.

Underground work on Australia’s biggest renewable energy project, the federal government-owned Snowy 2.0 hydro project in NSW has been halted after an industrial-sized ventilation fan malfunctioned, sending dangerous metal shrapnel flying through the air.

In the latest setback to the trouble-plagued $12bn project, the serious safety incident has prompted Snowy Hydro to seek an immediate independent safety review and require changes to principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture’s leadership on the project.

Warning there could have been worker fatalities, AWU New South Wales secretary Tony Callinan said the ventilation fan, approximately 2.5 metres in diameter, “catastrophically malfunctioned, sending dangerous metal shrapnel flying through the air”.

“By sheer fortune, no workers were in the immediate vicinity at the time of the failure,” he said.

Announcing “unacceptable safety risks” had been identified, SafeWork NSW revealed there had been a second incident involving a crane malfunctioning.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the situation was deeply concerning and while it was fortunate no one was hurt, the “risk someone could have been is unacceptable”.

He welcomed Snowy Hydro’s decision to set up an immediate independent safety review and audit, and “I’ve made clear that they must take every action to ensure the safety of this work”.

“I expect them as well as the contractor to work with the workers, SafeWork and the unions to conduct a full and exhaustive safety audit and fix any problems, and ensure processes are fixed so these incidents stop,” he said.

SafeWork NSW acting deputy secretary Trent Curtin said inspectors issued six prohibition notices to cease the use of unsafe ventilation fans.

“We have been on site this week speaking with management, health and safety representatives and workers, and unfortunately received reports of two dangerous incidents on the weekend and Tuesday which are seriously concerning to me,” he said

“I’m advised one incident involved a crane malfunctioning, while another incident involved a ventilation fan failing with metal debris flying out from the fan. Our investigation led us to discover that other fans were also at risk. These are significant safety events and it is lucky that no one was hurt.

“Every worker deserves to go to work knowing they are in a safe environment from which they can expect to return home every day.

SafeWork NSW Inspectors have prohibited the use of unsafe ventilation fans until they can be satisfied that they will be operated in a safe condition.

Mr Callinan said the inspections showed the fans in various states of disrepair, including missing and loose bolts

He said the incident came just a month after workers were forced to stop work after underground refuge chambers, crucial for worker survival in the event of an underground emergency, were found to be inoperable and not maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications. 

“This latest incident represents a significant near-miss that could have resulted in workers being killed,” Mr Callinan said. “Had anyone been in the path of this high-velocity shrapnel, we would be discussing fatalities rather than equipment failure.”

As well as the safety review and audit, Snowy Hydro said it would require changes to the FGJV leadership on the project.

It said “thankfully no one was hurt” as a result of the fan losing its blade.

“Nothing is more important to Snowy Hydro than safety. Recent safety concerns at Snowy 2.0 have made it clear that as the client, our assurance role over FGJV’s activities requires this Intervention,” Snowy Hydro said.

“We’re committed to working with our workforce and unions to ensure that the safety standards we expect are in place at Snowy 2.0.”

Underground work has stopped to allow inspection of all fans, and FGJV would work with SafeWork NSW to “ensure they are safe, with the aim of progressively restarting work”.

The AWU has demanded all ventilation equipment undergo comprehensive inspection by the original manufacturers before any worker returns to the underground portions of the project.

“The condition of these critical safety systems is completely unacceptable,” Mr Callinan said.

“These fans provide the essential ventilation that makes underground work possible.”

He said the failure of the fans not only represented an immediate hazard from flying debris but could also create lethal atmospheric conditions underground.

“Tunnelling is a dangerous industry but, Snowy 2.0 management just can’t seem to get the basics right, it’s the worst project I have seen in 20 years as an AWU organiser,” he said.

“This has gone on way too long, senior management need to be held accountable for their ongoing failure to provide a safe workplace, we have been talking about serious safety issues on this project for years.

“The AWU and our members have absolutely no confidence in the project’s ability to manage safety, it is time for some changes at all levels of management of this project, including with the client Snowy Hydro.“