PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified major BHP’s coal alliance with Mitsubishi (BMA) on Friday announced that it would only use charter flights to transport fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) employees and contractors, restricting non-residential workers from visiting townships near its mine site, and increasing health screenings.
The move comes after the Queensland government earlier this week announced that only critical interstate FIFO mineworkers would be allowed into the state, with Queensland closing its borders to all but the most critical workers.
“We are all in this together, and we are absolutely committed to playing our part in helping to reduce the spread of Covid-19. In doing so, we hope to help keep Queensland strong by supporting jobs and local businesses where safe to do so as we work through this difficult period,” BMA asset president James Palmer said.
“We thank the Queensland government for the practical approach they are taking to ensure the measures in place to protect Queenslanders will also enable our operations to continue in a safe, sustainable way.”
Palmer said that the move to charter flights and restricted access to townships comes in addition to the several controls already implemented across BMA sites, accommodation camps and offices, which include physical distancing practices, increased cleaning and sanitation, and strict hygiene protocols. BMA is also assessing the potential to apply further measures introduced elsewhere within BHP to reduce interstate and intrastate plane travel.