A ute with contractors inside was smashed by a metal hook swinging from a helicopter in a Dunedin workplace accident which could have been "catastrophic".
A source — who did not want to be identified but had seen a video of the incident — told the Otago Daily Times that on February 27, a Delta Utility Services worker was whiplashed and received a concussion after a helicopter smashed the end of a 30m strop into the side of the truck he was in, leaving it severely damaged.
Both Delta and Helicopters Otago have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
The source said the incident happened while staff working on the track between Bethunes Gully and Mt Cargill were getting a piece of heavy machinery helicoptered to the site by Helicopters Otago.
When it was time to take it away, a 30m strop was attached to the helicopter.
The strop swung out of control, hitting a Delta truck.
"You could see the bloody truck shake and a hell of a noise.
"It could have been catastrophic."
A Delta spokeswoman said the incident occurred during a track maintenance operation in the Silverpeaks area.
"During the operation, a helicopter was being used to lift maintenance equipment to the remote site, when an unloaded lifting strop came into contact with a parked Delta ute.
"The correct authorities were contacted at the time of the incident, including the Civil Aviation Authority.
"As a precaution, Delta sent the employee to the urgent doctors for an assessment."
After being seen by a doctor, the employee was cleared to resume his regular work hours and duties, she said.
Delta, along with Helicopters Otago, thoroughly reviewed the incident and was taking all necessary steps to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future.
A WorkSafe spokesman said the incident had been reported to WorkSafe, but added that the person or organisation that reported it "wished to remain anonymous".
A Civil Aviation Authority spokeswoman said the authority was in the process of making initial inquiries to understand what happened and assess whether any further action was needed.
