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Fortescue implements four-drink maximum on site

Fortescue Metals Group will implement several initiatives to enhance the safety, culture and experience across all company workplaces, as a result of feedback from its Workplace Integrity Review. 

The review was launched in July 2021 to directly engage with Fortescue’s workforce and contractors to understand their views about the factors that may contribute to sexual harassment, and how Fortescue could enhance and expand upon existing measures to prevent it. 

 In response to the feedback received through the review, Fortescue has implemented initiatives in both the short and longer term. 

These include a limit of no more than four mid-strength alcoholic drinks can be purchased in a 24-hour period across all Fortescue sites effective from November 3, 2021.

It also includes a range of enhanced physical safety features, refreshed training and induction programs regarding workplace culture and behaviour, and a good bystander program, empowering all Fortescue team members to call out behaviour that is not aligned with the company’s culture and Values. 

Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines appeared before the WA Parliament’s Inquiry into Sexual Harassment Against Women in the FIFO Mining Industry to express the company’s commitment to eliminating sexual harassment from the workplace. 

“We know that more can always be done to ensure we are providing a safe and secure workplace and through our Workplace Integrity Review, we have gained valuable information and heard about lived experiences directly from our team members. We are listening to what we have been told and we are acting on it,” she said. 

The review included an online survey which received close to 2000 responses, 28 focus groups to allow small group discussions with team members and leadership walks across each operational site to identify safety issues. 

Also included in the review was independent review and assessment of current village security and safety measures, as well as a Contractor Forum hosted with 20 key contracting partners. 

 “Employers in the mining sector have demonstrated time and again that we can be leaders in the field of ensuring workplace safety. There is no reason we cannot also be leaders in preventing workplace sexual harassment,” Gaines said. 

 

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