Fortescue Metals Group,which employs 11,000 workers across its Pilbara iron ore operations,has introduced similar safety measures,along with an alcohol limit of six drinks a day.
In 2020,11 sexual harassment incidents were reported to the company,which jumped to 20 so far in 2021.
Rio Tinto,since January 2020,has substantiated one case of sexual assault and 29 reports of sexual harassment among its 16,000-strong WA workforce. A further allegation of sexual assault and 14 sexual harassment reports remain under investigation,while eight incidents were unable to be substantiated.
“The trend towards greater reporting is encouraging as it reflects that those impacted,as well as bystanders,are increasingly comfortable to report an incident. This enables us to take appropriate action to address the behaviour,” Rio Tinto wrote in its submission to the committee.
The Department of Mines,Industry Regulation and Safety said industry reporting of sexual harassment in the mining industry had been ad-hoc and inconsistent.
“DMIRS has become aware of recent and historical instances of alleged sexual assault,sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviours at Western Australian mining operations,” it said in its submission.
“Particularly disturbing is the fact that on several occasions these incidents have received media attention before they have been reported to DMIRS as the workplace safety regulator.
“This situation is unacceptable and,in some instances,may represent contraventions of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act.”
Between 2015 and 2021,22 alleged sexual assaults and 142 alleged bullying incidents (including 10 involving sexual harassment) were reported to the department.
The reporting shows an increasing trend in reports with the department increasingly issuing improvement notices to companies,noting most serious incidents involved alcohol.
Engineers Australia claimed there was not a clear understanding of how prevalent sexual harassment was in the FIFO workplace due to the requirement to sign non-disclosure agreements.
“Engineers Australia believes the practice of requiring complainants to sign NDAs means that the prevalence,nature,outcomes and reporting of sexual harassment in FIFO workplaces is not understood as it is not transparent,” it wrote in its submission.
“Engineers Australia believes women are deterred from reporting sexual harassment to their organisations for fear of not being believed,not being credible (he said/ she said) and/ or potential retribution.”
Meanwhile,the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union claimed a mining camp practice known as ‘motelling’,where workers changed dongas each swing,dissolved the community fabric that existed at more permanent arrangements.
“FIFO camps should be run as the communities they are and having continuity of neighbours is more likely to result in mutually supportive support camp relationships,” it said.
The Equal Opportunities Commission said the prevalence of sexual harassment in the mining industry was comparable to other male-dominated industries.
BHP has a goal to achieve gender balance by 2025,with women currently accounting for 29.8 per cent of its workforce. At the Hancock Prospecting-owned Roy Hill mine,21.7 per cent of the workforce are women.
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