Workplace fatality in Victoria

The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) has launched an 
investigation into the death last week of one of its members 
employed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment in 
Eildon near Alexandra.

The worker, a 54-year-old male from the Alexandra region, was 
killed during the use of explosives in the construction of a new 
logging road.

The AWU will conduct a mass meeting of employees from the 
Department at their base in Alexandra this week.

"Naturally we are shocked and saddened by this tragic death and 
whilst we are not rushing to any conclusions at this stage we 
will be conducting a full and detailed investigation into the 
accident", AWU Secretary Bill Shorten said.

"We are currently in the process of contacting the family of the 
deceased to express our condolences and we will be ensuring the 
other workers who witnessed the accident receive counselling and 
support over the weekend."

AWU officials will remain on the site over the weekend and are 
collecting information on the cause of the accident. The union 
will also be seeking meetings with representatives of the 
employer and the WorkCover authority.