A contractor has died after being struck by a falling steel beam at the Port Kembla steelworks in New South Wales. The incident occurred at approximately 10:30am on Monday while the man, in his mid-20s, was working on the reline of the number five blast furnace.
BlueScope Steel said its preliminary assessment indicated that a crane lifting a steel beam had fallen, fatally striking the worker. Emergency services attended the scene and are assisting with the investigation.
A BlueScope Steel spokesperson expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, stating that the company's immediate priority is supporting employees, first responders, and the family of the deceased. Work in the immediate area ceased following the incident.
SafeWork NSW inspectors have attended the scene, and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Union representatives confirmed that workers were in shock and had been sent home, with the project effectively halted.
The reline of the blast furnace began in 2024 to replace the aging number six furnace and is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
