08:37 am, Friday 22 October, 2010

WorkSafe Victoria has directed the builders of the desalination plant in Wonthaggi to review its system on screening workers for their workers after one employee jumped from a barge.

Authorities confirmed a man jumped from the barge last Sunday and was rescued by a boat as he attempted to swim to shore 800 metres away.

WorkSafe had communicated with the project builder on how to ”improve the way they screen and select workers stationed offshore” and how evaluation of workers are conducted, a spokesperson for the safety watchdog said.

The reason for the worker’s actions is still unknown, but reports say workers in the offshore site suffer from low morale and many of the employees were inexperienced.

A spokeswoman for the building company said an internal investigation on the construction site incident is underway. She said the man had to stay in hospital for a short time after he was picked up.

Report by Julia Alder - Do you have an OHS News Story - Let us know