Audit shines light on mining industry culture

SafeWork SA inspectors have conducted their first site audit as part of a campaign aimed at measuring awareness of sexual harassment, discrimination and violence at South Australian mine sites.

Two inspectors travelled to OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill mine in the Far North of the state late last month and spoke with managers, supervisors and workers at the copper/gold mine.

The mine is owned by OZ Minerals, with mining contractors Byrnecut Australia and Theiss engaged to conduct mining and transport activities on the site.

Staff from all three organisations were included in the audit.

The Prominent Hill mine site.

Workers involved ranged from a new employee who had only been at the site for two weeks through to staff who had worked at the mine since it opened in 2009.

The visit is the first in a series of audits being conducted by SafeWork SA inspectors at mine sites around the state.

SafeWork SA launched the campaign late last year with a workshop for senior managers and safety representatives from major SA mines to share information and gain a deeper understanding of industry best practice.

SafeWork SA has also published fresh guidance on its website outlining mine operator and industry stakeholder obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 and potential controls measures required to manage inappropriate behaviours.

Last month’s Prominent Hill audit included questions about the site’s adherence to psychosocial issues including camp safety, bullying and sexual harassment.

Managers and supervisors were also questioned about the provision of training and the procedures in place to handle complaints and other issues raised at the site.

Andrew Mooney, General Manager – Prominent Hill said OZ Minerals’ commitment to prioritising the safety, health and wellbeing of its workforce includes ensuring the work environment is physically and psychologically safe and everyone feels respected and included.

‘We welcome SafeWork SA’s audit and are pleased that Prominent Hill has been selected to be among the early participants,’ he said.

‘We look forward to sharing learnings that will help us continue to build a culture of care and respect.’

SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell said the mining industry was chosen as the focus for the campaign because of the isolated nature of FIFO work, the unique mix of workers it engages, and issues identified in larger mining states.

‘Sexual harassment, discrimination and violence is firmly a work health and safety risk, as well as a crime under other legislation,’ he said.

‘Every workplace needs to control the risk of inappropriate behaviours towards workers that can lead to psychological injury.

‘This audit is an important step in the campaign that aims to set benchmarks and expectations around workplace culture in the mining industry.’

Major mining company Rio Tinto released its Report into Workplace Culture at Rio Tinto in February 2022.

The report found that bullying was systemic within the company and sexual harassment occurred at unacceptable rates.