A new report suggests women’s amenities should be compulsory at Australian work sites in order to boost female participation in male-dominated occupational industries, inclusive of mining.
The Electrical Trades Union’s (ETU) Nowhere to Go report outlines various obstacles hindering female involvement in male-dominated sectors and provides recommendations to remedy them.
The ETU is calling for legislative minimum requirements to be put in place for workplace amenities, ensuring they are regularly serviced, accessible and suitable.
The Nowhere to Go report also asks that women be included in advisory groups to determine priorities and assess progress in improving education and compliance within male-dominated occupational industries.
Nowhere to Go advises there must be a singular point of contact going forward for all employees to report gendered safety issues.
This is among other recommendations provided by the ETU to make work sites more accessible for women.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s 2019-20 scorecard showed women accounted for 18 per cent of the mining industry at that time – a small rise from 17 per cent in 2018-19.
AusIMM’s 2021 Women in Mining Survey found that 67 per cent of female respondents rated amenities on mine sites as good or very good – a 7.5 per cent improvement from past years.
However, for women working in FIFO and DIDO mining roles, over 20 per cent said that the cleanliness and hygiene of amenities was ‘occasionally’ an issue for them; over ten per cent said it was ‘frequently’ an issue for them.
While female accessibility on mine sites is progressing, there’s still improvement to be had.
Electrician Sarah Brunton has worked in several Australian mines throughout her 22-year career. While most mining operations have catered for her, others have missed the mark.
“Many of the mining companies I’ve worked for have always accommodated for women on site but it’s the minority that let the industry down,” said Brunton.
“At one site in the NSW Hunter Valley, I had to rely on the supervisor to pick me up and drive me seven kilometres to the nearest toilet.
“Safe, convenient and accessible amenities really isn’t too much to ask for.”
AusIMM will continue to conduct their annual survey to help the mining industry understand where it is at and to encourage change.
Many mining companies have implemented initiatives to attract women into the industry while there are numerous awards nights that recognise female achievements in mining.
These include the Women in Resources National Awards (WIRNA), New South Wales Women in Mining Awards and the Queensland Women in Resources Awards, among others.