On the 18th June 2015 the inquiry into the impact of FIFO work practices on mental health was finalised with the release of a final report.

This WA Parliamentary Inquiry was instigated due to growing concerns about the impact of FIFO work practices on mental health issues and the suspected nine suicides of FIFO workers in the Pilbara in a 12 month period.

The inquiry, which received 130 formal submissions, lead to 30 key recommendations:

1. The DMP should establish and keep an annual count of the number of FIFO and DIDO (non-resident) workers within the resources industry in Western Australia.
2. The DMP should establish and keep an annual count of the number of resource workers employed on construction versus production in the resources industry.
3. Given the difficulties of determining a reliable figure for FIFO suicide rates, and of determining a suitable state wide rate, the Committee maintains it is not helpful to draw conclusions that the FIFO suicide rate is no higher than the general community.
4. The Committee recommends that the Minister for Mental Health funds the Mental Health Commission to commission independent research into the mental health impacts of fly in, fly out work arrangements on workers and their families.
5. The Committee calls on resource companies, and the industry’s peak bodies, to acknowledge and respond to the demographic information available about the resources FIFO workforce, mental illness, and suicide risk. Ignoring the confluence of these factors places the lives of workers and their wellbeing at risk.
6. Companies and industry peak bodies must acknowledge that, regardless of contested demographic risk factors for heightened rates of mental illness and suicide, their workforce is vulnerable to suicide. Suicide is therefore a workplace hazard.
7. The Committee recommends that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure that clause 19(4) of the national WHS Model Act, dealing with duty of care at accommodation facilities, be included in the Western Australia Work Health and Safety (Resources) Bill, to ensure that a FIFO worker occupying or residing in FIFO accommodation is not exposed to risks to health and safety, including mental health and wellbeing.
8. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure that a clause be included in the new Work Health and Safety (Resources) Bill that requires the mine manager to report to the Department of Mines and Petroleum all attempted suicides and suicides at any location at a mine, including within the accommodation facilities whether on or off tenement, regardless of the imputed motivation.
9. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure that the Department of Mines and Petroleum policy requires that every death notification received by the department is fully investigated, regardless of initial indications suggesting a suicide may not be related to work.
10. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure that a clause be included in the new Work Health and Safety (Resources) Bill that requires the mine manager to report to the Department of Mines and Petroleum any death, by any cause, which happens in xiii any part of the mine site (including the accommodation camp), whether the worker is on or off shift.
11. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and the Department of Mines and Petroleum, in partnership with the Mental Health Commission, negotiate a Code of Practice with industry and other stakeholders that addresses FIFO work arrangements and their impact on employees’ mental health.
12. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements addresses the issue of rosters, with the aim of encouraging even time rosters, and rosters that support mental health and wellbeing such as two weeks on, one week off, or the 8 days on, 6 days off roster. Rosters of greater compression than this can result in fatigue and pose significant risks to workers’ mental health and wellbeing, and should be reduced.
13. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensures the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements includes an explicit acknowledgement of the impact of fatigue on mental health, and controls for managing its consequences and impact.
14. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensures the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements includes a provision for the development of workplace cultures that are supportive of good mental health and well being.
15. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensures improved anti?bullying procedures be included in the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements, and that greater capacity be given to DMP to pursue and prosecute bullying claims.
16. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensures the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements emphasises the importance of providing high quality, reliable and accessible communications technology in FIFO accommodation villages.
17. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensures the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements includes a provision requiring that Active Lifestyle Coordinators (or their equivalents) at FIFO sites receive training in mental health.
18. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements requires the minimisation of motelling accommodation practices, and where possible, its abolition. The Code of Practice should also include measures to reduce the negative impacts of the practice of motelling.
19. That the Drug and Alcohol Office initiates an inquiry into possible harmful drinking habits and alcohol consumption of FIFO workers, and the impact on their mental health.
20. Industry should assess whether all of the controls applied to workers in the FIFO accommodation facilities are necessary in terms of health and safety. The level of appropriate control in the accommodation facilities should be addressed in the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements.
21. That the Mental Health Commission, in conjunction with industry and non government organisations, develop a training program for managers and supervisors in the resources industry to address mental health issues, including suicide prevention and managing mental health problems amongst colleagues and workers.
22. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure that the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements include a requirement for training in mental health literacy for FIFO workers, their families and other resource workers.
23. A peer based support program such as Mates in Construction should be implemented at all FIFO sites, for both construction and production workers.
24. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensures that the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements include a requirement for consistent procedures for mental health evacuations across industry, to be developed in partnership with the Mental Health Commission and the Mental Health Law Centre.
25. That the Minister for Mines and Petroleum ensure that the Code of Practice on FIFO work arrangements includes a provision requiring companies to have well developed policies in place to manage a suicide or suicide attempt within their workforce. The Mental Health Commission should be consulted in the development of such policies.
26. That the Mental Health Commission (Drug and Alcohol Office) conduct further research into the use of illicit drugs by FIFO workers, particularly the use of short acting illicit and new synthetic substances, and the impact on mental health.
27. Where possible, FIFO workers should be encouraged and enabled to engage with the local host community.
28. Mining companies should engage with local host communities to ensure that the placement of accommodation facilities brings benefits to local communities, as well as benefits to the mental health of workers.
29. That the Department of State Development investigate mechanisms to encourage resource companies to invest in providing workers the opportunity to reside in local communities in order to improve mental health.
30. The Department of State Development should develop a strategic plan for the decision making process for the placement of FIFO accommodation camps, which must include consideration of workers’ mental health and access to local communities. Such a plan should include a community impact assessment.

To learn more, visit This FIFO Life