WorkSafe

• Program designed to stamp out sexual harassment and assault in the resources sector
• Extra funding will address mental health, workplace culture, and drug and alcohol use

The McGowan Government today announced an additional $6.5 million for the Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program as part of the State Budget 2022-23.

Launched in December 2021, the MARS program boosts responses to mental health, workplace culture and mine safety in Western Australia’s mining sector.

• The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 and regulations will commence March 31, 2022
• After 38 years, WA’s work health and safety laws will be modernised

The McGowan Government’s new Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws begin tomorrow improving protections for all Western Australian workers.

A national first, the new laws bring together WHS for general industry, mines and petroleum operations under a single act.

BHP Iron Ore Pty Ltd was today fined $125,000 after a contractor suffered a lacerated artery from being struck in the neck by a metal shard in September 2017.

The incident occurred while the contactor was working on an excavator during routine maintenance works at BHP’s Whaleback iron ore mine located about six kilometres from Newman.

BHP pleaded guilty in the South Hedland Magistrates Court after being charged with causing serious harm to an employee and failing to provide a workplace where employees were not exposed to hazards.

Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Ltd was today fined $80,000 and ordered to pay $7,500 in costs after three workers were exposed to extreme conditions without proper training.

The company pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court for failing to ensure the safety of employees.

On 14 October 2017, two workers and a supervisor were searching for proposed drill sites in rugged terrain while working at Mount Windell in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The work took place over two days in temperatures estimated to be higher than 37°C.

Mining and petroleum operators are reminded to review their contingency plans for the 2021-22 cyclone season.

Employers in control of workplaces in cyclone sensitive regions must have adequate plans in place and provide adequate training to protect workers in the event of a cyclone.

Newcrest Mining Limited has today been fined $105,000 and ordered to pay $6,255 in costs after a woman suffered serious injuries to several parts of her body during an attack by dingoes.

The incident happened in July 2018 at the Telfer Mine, located within the Great Sandy Desert in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The worker was a contractor on site as part of a maintenance shut down.

In the lead up to the incident, the employee was eating a sandwich in an outside barbeque area at the mine site.

Information designed to help Western Australians prepare for the State’s new work health and safety laws has been published on the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) website.

A video message from the Minister for Industrial Relations, Stephen Dawson, is supported by wide range of educational content.

Sandfire Resources Ltd has been fined $551,250 and ordered to pay $4,670 in costs after a rock fall pinned a worker to an elevated basket he was working in at the company’s DeGrussa underground mine.

As the principal employer, Sandfire Resources pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court on 15 November 2023 to failing to take appropriate measures to ensure workers at the mine were not exposed to hazards.

Follows McGowan Government's response to sexual harassment and assault in WA’s mining sector.

A landmark study into mental health and workplace culture across Western Australia's mining sector has released two reports with its preliminary findings.

Curtin University’s Centre for Transformative Work Design is undertaking the four-year study to gather and evaluate data on sexual assault, harassment, mental health, drug and alcohol use, and emerging mine safety issues.

Funding worth nearly $1.2 million to strengthen responses to sexual harassment and respect on mine sites.

Government remains committed to building a workplace culture of respect and safety for women.

Funding forms part of the McGowan Government’s Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) program.

Four new funding packages worth nearly $1.2 million are set to further strengthen the McGowan Government’s commitment to the safety of Western Australian mine workers.