Mining giant BHP will continue to block unvaccinated employees from their jobs despite the state government ruling out the vaccination warrant for most WA workers as of Friday.
Under the BHP Health and Safety Controls, which apply from June 10, all employees, job seekers, and visitors wishing to access sites or offices will still require at least two doses of the VOCID vaccine.
He said his decision to maintain the strict vaccination mandate as public health orders are facilitated was based on his own assessment of the latest scientific and health advice.
Camera icon FIFO mine workers gather in Forrest Place to protest the state government’s vaccination warrant. Credit: Trevor Collens / The West Australian
But it stands in stark contrast to rival iron ore producer Rio Tinto, which is opening up to hesitant FIFO workers.
The Western Australian on Monday unveiled an internal Rio Tinto note outlining the company’s global plans to welcome unskilled workers and remove vaccination controls from airports, workplaces, company events and family visits. .
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BHP had previously included a dose of reinforcement for site access requirements as instructed by the WA government, but has decided to eliminate the need for a third injection as of Friday.
“Double vaccination as a condition of entry will remain in place for all Australian BHP jobs,” a BHP spokeswoman said.
“Our policy does not require booster vaccinations to access the site, but we encourage everyone to keep their vaccination status up to date with ATAGI recommendations.
“Our safety and health measures against COVID-19 are based on a thorough assessment of the latest scientific evidence and health advice, and we continue to review the effectiveness of these controls.”
IconBHP Camera South Flank Mine Camp. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian
Under the new state government rules, only vaccination of health workers, the elderly and the disabled will be required, and other employers will decide their own policies.
Prime Minister Mark McGowan noted last week that some public and private sector companies could choose to continue to demand vaccinations for employees, suggesting that such a measure could be on prison letters and emergency services.
Last Friday, however, both the Justice Department and the Fire and Emergency Services Department announced they would rule out internal warrants.
Thousands of FIFO workers protested against the WA government’s “no punch, no job” rules in Perth last December, when a first dose was ordered for the resource sector.
Placing their high-visibility T-shirts and vests along the steps of the House of Parliament, anti-vaccine workers protested against the policy that ultimately applied to more than 75 percent of WA’s workforce. with a $ 20,000 fine.
BHP WA Iron Ore Asset President Brandon Craig said last week that only a small minority of employees were hesitant, estimating that about 2-3 percent had chosen not to comply with vaccination as a condition of entrance.
“It wasn’t at a level that was material for the performance of our business,” he said.
“We worked really hard to try to work with people, to try to stay in our business and get them out of the business was really the last resort for us.”
BHP quickly moved the issue forward. When the state government first announced mandates for WA workforce pockets, BHP implemented the rules in all departments of its entire operation based on its own health advice.