Workforce management
Shining a light on the FIFO industry A WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY INTO SEXUAL HARASSMENT AGAINST WOMEN IN THE FIFO MINING INDUSTRY AIMS TO IMPLEMENT POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE STATE’S RESOURCES SECTOR.
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he mining sector takes great pride in its safety record. While accidents can and do happen, as a general rule the number of incidents has decreased significantly over the past two decades. Mining companies often release updated injury frequency rates as part of their yearly reports with most highlighting significant improvements in workplace injuries and incidents. However, recent media reports have shone a spotlight on one critical area of workplace safety that appears to have increased – sexual harassment and assaults, particularly in the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) sector. Last year due to the allegations of these media reports, chair of the WA Parliamentary Community Development and Justice Standing Committee Libby Mettam, who is also the State Liberal Party deputy leader and Member for Vasse, called for a parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry. “These reports were obviously very distressing, and I felt that there was a good opportunity to invest parliamentary resources in undertaking an inquiry into this challenging issue,” Mettam says. “One of the values of parliamentary committees is that you can look into some of the more challenging policy areas and make recommendations to government.
The FIFO industry is the focus of the parliamentary inquiry.
“I also appreciate that there is a finite period where you are a member of parliament, so I am very much focussed that the time I spend in parliament is as relevant and as productive as possible.” Mettam says while she understands that the WA mining sector is particularly unique, and underpins the Western Australian economy, she feels it was important to address the issues as a way to highlight the safety of the workforce. “My electorate of Vasse is one of the largest FIFO bases in the state,” she says. “I felt I had a responsibility to these constituents, and to those working in the industry, to highlight these important issues and use the parliamentary resources available to hopefully make some recommendations that can lead to positive change in the industry.”
SAFETOWORK.COM.AU 50 JAN-FEB 2022
The inquiry was called in July with submissions from the industry, as well as anonymous submissions from victims, due by mid-August. The committee consisted of Western Australian Legislative Assembly members Divina D’Anna, Mark Folkard, Kim Giddens and Jodie Hanns, with Mettam as the chair. According to the inquiry’s terms of reference, the committee was urged to consider: • Is there a clear understanding of the prevalence, nature, outcomes and reporting of sexual harassment in FIFO workplaces? • Do existing workplace characteristics and practices – including but not limited to workplace cultures, rosters, drug and alcohol policies and recruitment practices – adequately protect against sexual harassment? • Are current legislation, regulations,
