The extractive sector claims to be working to ensure key operations can continue during the coronavirus lockdown in Western Australia, but is taking a conservative approach and will limit the movement of FIFO workers where possible.
Important points:
- The Washington government has made the extractive sector an essential service
- The extractive sector said Monday it has stopped FIFO labor movements but it could change if more information is available
- Thousands of FIFO employees travel to and from the areas affected by the lockdown every week
Thousands of FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) employees travel to the Pilbara every week from the restricted areas of metropolitan Perth, Peel and the southwest to work in the multi-billion dollar iron ore industry.
The Washington government has declared the sector “essential” – a direction that allows workers to move around when necessary.
But Prime Minister Mark McGowan said the government has asked industry to stop labor movements.
“We have communicated with all companies that no one should leave Perth, Peel or the Southwest regions to fly to a mining site this week with a few limited exceptions, particularly for specialists required to operate the mines,” said McGowan .
“We ask everyone to do the right thing here.”
LIVE UPDATES: Check out our blog for the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Travel reduced to trickle
There was widespread confusion on social media as news of the sector’s lockdown was filtered over the weekend.
Many flights to the Pilbara were canceled on Monday, with only a handful of people trickling through Karratha Airport.
ABC Pilbara received reports of at least one mining company chartering buses to send workers back to Perth from the Pilbara.
Many flights from Karratha in the Pilbara were canceled after the recent COVID shutdown. (ABC Pilbara: Verity Hughes)
Rob Carruthers, director of politics and advocacy for the mine chamber and energy chamber, said FIFO labor movements have been halted but that could change if information is available.
“The focus is on normal business operations,” said Carruthers.
“Obviously, important operations need to continue during this period and that is reflected in the advice given by the government.
“From the point of view of the extractive sector, we have been preparing for a second wave for many, many months. This is really about ensuring that the controls that have been identified and are in place are at the right level in the face of the lockdown over the next five days.”
WA blocking rules explained
You cannot and cannot do this under the current WA lock.
Continue reading
Mr Carruthers said the sector is taking a “conservative approach” to the lockdown.
“It’s really about keeping movement as low as possible and looking at the controls that are in place – especially in the transit area and with people who have to work in close proximity,” he said.
“We have been there before, we have dealt with very closed and safe travel conditions related to FIFO movements in the past and we did that very successfully during the course of 2020.
“We are therefore confident that we can safely do this should it be necessary to continue important operations.”
Find more local news here
Safety precautions in place
Two gold miners in the Murchison said they would continue their FIFO operations but have banned workers from visiting nearby cities.
Ramelius Mining, with a 200-person camp in Mount Magnet, told the local Shire that its workers could no longer use the town’s pool, shops or hotels.
Rob Madson, CEO of Cue Shire, said Westgold has set a similar direction for its workers in Cue.
“They allow them to go upstairs and stay in camp, but they advise them not to have any contact with the city,” Madson said.
Mr Carruthers said the industry will rely on existing “robust and sophisticated” safeguards in place to protect workers and the community, including the way people are managed on site and in transit.
“We have health screening facilities both on-site and for facilities that are changing from a FIFO perspective. All of those facilities and infrastructure are still in place,” he said.
“We are very confident that controls can be managed effectively this year and that given the importance of the sector to the government and the economy, we can continue to perform well.”
The extractive industry says it will limit the movements of FIFO workers as much as possible. (ABC News: James Carmody)
The disruption comes when the sector faces another challenge a tropical low that moves through the region force the closure of export ports along the coast.
The low is expected to cross near Onslow on Tuesday and strengthen into a cyclone.
“These types of disruptions will be factored into the full year forecast at launch, so I won’t go into that further,” said Carruthers.
Community confident about mine testing
Ken Donohoe, CEO of Shire of Ashburton, said companies like Rio Tinto, which works closely with the Shire, have “always had very strong testing regimes.”
“They make sure that the risk is as low as possible – not just because of the impact on their workforce, but also on the way they do business,” said Donohoe.
Elizabeth Gaines, general manager of FMG, said the company’s incident management team met regularly to discuss the latest government guidelines.
“While miners have been viewed as an essential service, we support the need to minimize travel expenses and have canceled today’s flights as we await updates on the situation,” she said in a statement.
“We are working with the government to limit the movement of people during this important five-day lockdown.
“The health and safety of the Fortescue family is our top priority. Fortescue will continue to work closely with the authorities to ensure that all relevant measures are implemented to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading to our team, their families and directly affects the community. “
Rio Tinto said it is closely monitoring the situation and its top priority is the health and safety of its employees and the communities in which it operates.
“All non-essential employees and contractors in the affected regions have been instructed to work from home and not come to the office,” the company said in a statement.
