Fortescue prosecuted over sexual harassment investigation

Fortescue Metals Group has been charged with 34 counts of failing to supply documents to WorkSafe relating to alleged sexual harassment at its Western Australian mine sites.

WorkSafe issued a statement late this afternoon advising it had launched prosecution action against Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group. 

The company has been charged with 34 counts of refusing or failing to comply with a requirement to hand over documents to a WorkSafe inspector within a specified period without a reasonable excuse, according to WorkSafe. 

WorkSafe said its inspectors had the right to request documentation within a specified timeframe, unless the business had a 'reasonable excuse' not to per the Work Health and Safety Act 2022.

Those documents relate to cases of alleged sexual harassment at Fortescue's Christmas Creek, Solomon and Cloudbreak iron ore mines. 

"WorkSafe has commenced prosecution action against mining company Fortescue Metals Group for failing to supply documents relating to 34 cases of alleged sexual harassment at their mine sites," WorkSafe said. 

Fortescue is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on March 17 but has not yet entered a plea to the charges. 

A Fortescue spokesperson said sexual harrassment had no place at the company and that it took its responsibility to provide a safe and respectful workplace for team members very seriously.

"Fortescue has always complied with our obligations to report cases of sexual harassment and other incidents of psychosocial harm in line with the relevant legislation," the spokesperson said. 

"We have been seeking to work constructively with WorkSafe for many months and are confused by WorkSafe choosing to issue a media release without notifying us.

"Improving the safety of our workplaces and ensuring our team members feel safe enough to speak up is critical and we will continue to take meaningful action to eliminate sexual harassment."

Like many of its mining peers, Fortescue has taken a clear public stance against sexual harassment in light of a wave of public revelations about FIFO culture that culminated in the ‘Enough is Enough’ report, handed down in June 2023.