Rio Tinto has disclosed that 700 fly-in, fly-out workers have moved to Perth from interstate or overseas because of new travel restrictions, more than twice the number at mining rival BHP.
The workers have temporarily relocated, as otherwise they would need to go through a 14-day quarantine period every time they fly into Western Australia.
The relocation is among multiple changes the big resources companies have made to their WA operations to deal with COVID-19 restrictions.
Rio said more than 1,200 FIFO workers at its Yandicoogina and Greater Brockman iron ore operations in the Pilbara had started extended rosters, working two weeks on followed by two weeks off.
Roster changes at the company’s other sites in the Pilbara, involving more than 3,500 FIFO workers, are also being rolled out.
Rio’s announcement has shed light on the scale of its FIFO operations, which account for nearly half its iron ore workforce.
The group employs a total of 12,930 people in WA, making it the second largest employer in WA, according to the BNiQ biggest employers database.
This includes people in its salt, diamonds and corporate offices but most work in iron ore.
Rio’s FIFO operations include about 2,200 people based in regional WA, including Busselton, Albany, Broome and Carnarvon.
BHP, which has about 12,000 employees and contractors in WA, has disclosed that 300 FIFO workers in its iron ore operations have moved to WA from interstate.
Fortescue Metals Group has not disclosed the number of transfers within its workforce but has stated that 95 per cent of its workers (totalling 6,448 people) are based in WA; that implies about 320 people are based interstate.
Chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said the company had already taken steps to deal with the travel restrictions.
"Ahead of ‘hard border’ closure measurers we worked with those who reside outside of WA, providing them with the option to temporarily relocate to Perth or Port Hedland for the duration of the travel restriction and compensating for costs incurred, including for accommodation," she said.
In a similar vein, Woodside Petroleum said the vast majority of its workforce (totalling 3,662 people) resides in WA but the company has prepared accommodation options for interstate employees and their families to relocate to WA if they choose.
All the big resources companies have moved to longer shifts, in order to reduce travel frequency in and out of the Pilbara.
Offsetting that has been changes required to comply with social distancing rules.
To accommodate those changes, they have secured additional charter flights from the likes of Qantas and Virgin Australia Airlines.
Among other changes, Rio said today all employees would be screened, including temperature checks prior to boarding flights, buses would use only every second seat, and tighter social distancing measures were being implemented in village dining rooms and for shift breaks.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said the company would continue to strengthen measures throughout its operations and at airports to ensure the health and safety of its people.
“These measures mean we can keep our operations running, to ensure we continue delivering products to our customers and make a strong contribution to the WA and Australian economies at a very challenging time,” he said.
