Is FIFO mining incompatible with fair treatment of workers? 

Caption: Mount Magnet FIFO accommodation. Credit: Auscape/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Fly-in fly-out (FIFO) work, where workers live on-site in weeks-long rotations, has acted as the cornerstone of many Australian mines for years. Now, serious questions are being asked about its ethics and risks.  

With some of Australia’s biggest miners facing allegations of harassment at their FIFO sites, the industry must better balance FIFO work's productivity against the needs of its workers. 

When it comes to ethics, risk, safety and harassment, FIFO is becoming more and more controversial. 

Commonly, FIFO is used in the mining, oil and gas drilling industries, as mines and wells can lie far from the nearest settlement. Generally, such sites use portable buildings, aiding clear-up after the end of operations. 

In practical terms, the practice might not immediately seem problematic. If workers act as they would elsewhere, why should FIFO sites pose a problem? The issue appears that FIFO sites act as secluded corners of society, away from the social expectations and passive scrutiny seen in normal life. This can encourage toxic cultures and heighten abuse, for a number of psychological, logistical and geographical reasons.  

In 2012, Fortescue Metals Group told an inquiry that it would cost an additional A$100,000 per worker per year to employ staff in residential positions, rather than as FIFO workers. for perspective, this would mean that switching the company’s 330 workers at its Port Hedland facility away from FIFO work would cost the company an additional A$33m per year. 

Nine years after the first, another inquiry was formed to investigate the potential harms of FIFO work. Quite apart from the damage to individuals and the reputation of a company, chief executive of Western Australia’s Chamber of Minerals and Energy Paul Everingham made the point that FIFO abuses reflect poorly on the industry as a whole. He summarised this in saying: “There is a lot of public talk around improving things by getting greater diversity onto mine sites, but what young impressionable girl would want to work on a mine site, particularly when we have sexual harassment and assault going on?” 

Last year, Rio Tinto released its own report into its workplace culture, following allegations of sexual harassment at several of its FIFO sites. It revealed various experiences of bullying, sexual harassment and racism by men and women working at different Rio Tinto sites. 

It shows female employees working on FIFO were more likely to experience bullying than their male colleagues. Women in FIFO work also experienced significantly higher rates of sexual harassment. Other massive issues surrounding sexuality, race and general toxicity come to light in the Rio report. Quotes from female workers vary from “I was bullied over and over again,” to “you look like a boy”. 

Another quote read: “As a lesbian, I’m often treated like ‘one of the guys’ – they share their fantasies with you and are not afraid to make vulgar comments in front of you. I received heaps of comments that "you just haven't met the right guy", and instances of men wanting to come back to your room. I didn’t feel unsafe though. It was just frustrating.” 

Whether the comments are frustrating, unsafe, or bringing some other harm, most would agree they should not happen. The question remains whether a practice that makes room for these comments ought to be operating at all.  

In response, some companies seek to manage the issues of FIFO. Mineral Resources has unveiled a prototype for resort-style accommodation for FIFO in the mining industry that it hopes will tackle some of the social issues around the practice. 

The company has ordered 750 locally fabricated rooms, with each spanning 45 square metres of living space. This makes them three times larger than traditional FIFO accommodation. 

The rooms feature a queen size bed, separate ensuite, kitchenette, lounge and laundry with washer and dryer, meaning there’s no need for a communal laundry system. 

Mineral Resources chief people and shared services officer Bronwyn Grieve said: “We want to redefine what it means to be a FIFO worker by creating a home-away-from-home and a genuine community environment for our people. To do that, we must have high-quality, comfortable and secure accommodation. That’s exactly what these pods will deliver; they are a game-changer.” 

The rooms have been designed for single people or couples, with the aim of encouraging a more diverse workforce. Each pair of rooms, known as a “pod”, will be linked by walkways and configured like a resort, with shared gathering spaces and barbecue areas. 

Mineral Resources only announced its prototype in December. In its first deployment, locals criticised the development for its potential impact on traffic, also saying that it would occupy prime beachfront. For a true comparison to other FIFO developments, metrics on whether it can reduce cultural toxicity on the ground will be needed, in time.