The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) has characterised the collapse of an air duct at the Yallourn power station as a wake-up call to improve safety at aging coal plants. Victorian district president Andy Smith said, “Luck was the only reason that no-one was injured or killed.”
“It is unconscionable that the plant has reached the stage where it is literally collapsing around workers while they perform their duties,” said Mr Smith.
The huge air duct collapsed earlier in the month, with power station operator Energy Australia saying that it is likely that the facility will be offline for weeks. This incident occurred during maintenance activities, with the duct detaching from the boiler end and falling to the floor. No one was injured.
WorkSafe is investigating the incident and will determine any further action required at Yallourn. There will be no impact to Victoria’s energy supply as a result of this incident.
A recent report from Reliability Watch found that Yallourn power station recorded 18 breakdowns between October 2024 and March 2025, despite only five outages being planned.
Yallourn power station is the oldest of the remaining Latrobe Valley facilities, with the first stage being built in 1921. The facility is set to close in 2028.
The outcomes of aging facilities and increasing maintenance requirements are more workers exposed to an environment of increasing risk.
Read more: Collapse at Yallourn Power Station leaves unit offline for weeks - ABC News