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Iron ore majors tighten security amid Western Australian sexual harassment inquiry -Breaking

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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO – A worker inspects a truck loaded in iron ore from Fortescue Metals Group’s Christmas Creek iron mine, south of Port Hedland. It is located in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. November 17, 2015. REUTERS/Jim Regan

By Melanie Burton

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Major Australian iron ore producers say that they have increased security at remote mines and improved training in an effort to transform an industry culture plagued by high levels of sexual assault.

According to mining executives, the measures will include reducing excess alcohol consumption at fly-in, fly-out “FIFO” camps. This was disclosed by a Western Australian state inquiry.

Submissions to the government inquiry in August revealed that sexual harassment has been rampant in mining camps within the state. The country supplies more than half the world’s iron ore supply.

Following high profile cases of sexual assault committed by miners, this inquiry will be reporting its findings next year.

The camps employ approximately one fifth of the women workers. Critics have claimed that recreation areas have been turned into drinking hotspots and have created poor camp culture, which miners must address.

Fortsecue Metals Group executives and Rio Tinto (NYSE ) added to earlier comments by BHP Group this month.

Elisabeth Gaines, Fortescue’s Chief Executive, told this inquiry that in addition to improving safety at camps, Fortescue was also revising its training on workplace culture and behaviour.

Similar to Rio Tinto’s measures this year, it will restrict alcohol purchase across all its sites to just four drinks of moderate strength in 24 hours.

Simon Trott, Rio’s iron ore chief, told the inquiry that it has started a leadership program in order to increase inclusivity and strengthen preventative strategies such as bystander training and encouraging people who are not being treated well to report their concerns.

He stated that “we are determined to change the culture of the organisation to make safety & respect a lived reality for all our people.”

Both mining companies announced that they will jointly establish educational programmes at schools and training centres throughout the state to prevent sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of racism.

Brandon Craig, BHP Iron Ore’s boss, said this month that the company was spending A$300 million on security improvements at its iron ore plants. It stated in its submission that BHP had dismissed 48 employees for sexual harassment incidents in just two years.

Owen Whittle, spokesperson for UnionsWA which represents 30 worker groups, stated that unions welcome the pledges to improve security and facilities. This union wants these improvements to be accepted by contractors that employ large numbers of remote miners.

Whittle said that although there were some initial announcements, he believes that there will be a significant change in culture. “That’s not an overnight commitment, it takes time,” Whittle explained to Reuters.

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