JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A Western Australia Parliamentary committee on Thursday handed down its report into the mental health impact of fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) work practices in the resources industry, which industry bodies said they would review in detail.

The Education and Health Standing Committee’s report, which was prompted by a string of suicides among Fifo workers over the past five years, has made 42 findings and 30 recommendations.

Some of the findings include that it appeared that the prevalence of mental health problems among the Fifo workforce could be about 30%, which was significantly higher than the national average of 20%. The inquiry also found that it was not helpful to draw conclusions that the Fifo suicide rate was no higher than the general community, owing to difficulties of determining a reliable figure for Fifo suicide rates.

The committee acknowledged that some degree of Fifo would always be required to service offshore and remote resource sites; however, it had raised concern about the potential for Fifo work systems to become entrenched as the ‘normal’ work practice at resource sites.

The committee has recommended that a code of practice on Fifo work arrangements should be developed to ensure that the main factors that impacted negatively on workers’ health were addressed. “The committee would like to see action that modifies the system of work to take into account the mental health of workers, rather than attempting to profile or screen workers who are ‘tough enough’ to withstand the challenges of Fifo,” the report stated.

It also noted that better integration of Fifo accommodation camps into local communities and improved occupational safety and health coverage of the camps would improve mental health and wellbeing, productivity and ultimately the sustainability of the system.

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) CE Reg Howard-Smith commented that the committee’s report was an opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of the complex issue of mental health and suicide prevention.

“Mental health and wellbeing is a broad issue affecting many in the Western Australian community, making responsibility for mental health issues a shared one for individuals, government, community and industry,” he stated.

The CME noted that resources companies had long recognised the importance of employee wellbeing, with supports such as employee assistance programmes common across industry.

Additionally, it highlighted that companies undertook a wide range of workplace and community wellbeing initiatives to facilitate access to support, break down stigma of mental health issues, as well as programmes designed to help employees adjust to Fifo.

The CME also stated that, over the past ten years, there had been a “dramatic improvement” in the conditions, rosters and facilities available on site for Fifo employees.

“Independent research has highlighted the majority of resources companies provide counselling services and promote awareness of wellbeing issues through their fit for work and health promotion programmes,” Howard-Smith said.

Safety and health legislation relevant to workplaces in Western Australia currently covered physical and psychological aspects of employee and employer wellbeing under general and specific duties placed on them.

The CME stated that the committee had noted that there were already many codes of practice and guidelines in place to assist companies manage risks to health and safety across the resources sector including; Working Hours Code of Practice; Prevention and Management of Violence, Aggression and Bullying Code of Practice, Safe Design of Buildings and Structures Code of Practice; and General Duty of Care guidelines for both mines and petroleum companies.

Howard-Smith added that the industry would urge the government when considering its response to recommendations to focus on quality research and data, rather than on anecdotal and emotive evidence.

“At the end of the day, it’s important for us all to remember that Fifo remains a matter of choice for employees, a choice about where they live and where they choose to work,” he said.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec) also issued a statement on Thursday recommending that a national perspective should be taken on the issue of Fifo workers that reached across all of Australia and therefore needed to be considered in the context of all employment.

“Mental health and promoting a healthy lifestyle is important for all sectors of the workforce, not just the mining industry,” stated Amec CEO Simon Bennison.

Further, the Queensland Resources Council said in its response that Queensland’s resources sector would also carefully examine the findings of the West Australian inquiry into the mental health impact on Fifo workers.

The Queensland Parliament had also started an inquiry into Fifo practices in the state. Newly elected Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said she planned to legislate against projects only making use of a Fifo workforce. Earlier this month, Queensland approved a new BHP Mitsubishi Alliance coal mine, north of Moranbah, but prohibited the joint venture from relying fully on a Fifo workforce.