Business as usual so far for major WA minersBy Hamish...

Business as usual so far for major WA miners

By Hamish Hastie

Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines.CREDIT:PHILIP GOSTELOW

No major miner or gas company has announced whether they will convert operations to essential staff only.

Despite whispers throughout the industry and union officials that lockdowns will inevitably force major changes to their operations, companies such as Fortescue, BHP, Rio Tinto and Chevron are yet to report any major change to working conditions on site.

Earlier in the day Chevron confirmed it had isolated multiple staff members who had come into contact with a colleague displaying COVID-like systems. The isolation will remain in place until the employee receives their test results.

Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said the company was carefully monitoring the impact of COVID-19 and the introduction of new guidelines from the Commonwealth and State Governments to ensure preparedness plans reflected the health and safety of its workforce as its highest priority.

“Our operations are continuing as per our production schedule and there is no impact on our shipping schedule to customers in China,” she said.

A BHP spokesperson said it continued to communicate with its workforce to follow hygiene, travel and quarantine recommendations.

BHP has suspended all international business travel and FIFO employees who commute from international locations were asked to speak with managers to deal with new 14-day self isolation requirements.

The company is also implementing a range of measures for both city-based and remote staff including working from home and flexible rostering.

On Monday afternoon Rio Tinto announced the expansion to its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia had been slowed as a result of travel restrictions.

The Australia Africa Minerals and Energy Group, which represented Australian companies with projects in Africa, launched an online knowledge hub to help companies navigate their COVID-19 responses.

The hub gives companies a COVID-19 response plan template, addressing the specific safety and risk management needs of Africa based operations.

“The media is busy publishing all types of stories, largely focussed on China, Italy, South Korea,
Spain and Japan,” AAMEG chief executive Bill Witham said.

“As the peak body representing Australian companies engaged in the development of Africa’s resource industry, we felt it was important to create a dedicated space with tailored information and advice, given our members face unique challenges in combating public health crises.”