SRG Global wins $455m worth of contracts across Australia, New Zealand
These include a five-year contract for asset integrity services with Switzerland-based Glencore.
The recent deaths of nine West Australian fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers who took their own lives has put the issue of living conditions and depression in the mining industry back in the spotlight.
According to The Australian, suicide is the single largest killer of people aged 15 to 44 years old, while the average age of a FIFO worker is 38.
Experts point to a male-dominated culture, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, as well as a low emotional capacity to work through problems as key reasons why these workers are at risk.
Add to this the social dynamics of life in a mining camp, where hundreds of workers usually live side-by-side in identical quarters and work 12-hour shifts away from family and friends for weeks at a time, and you begin to understand how mental health problems can develop.
A study published in June by University of South Australia’s researcher Wes McTernan found that mining workers and their partners are more prone to depression.
In a survey of 150 people over a 12-month period, the academic also found workers, as well as their partners, were likely to be more prone to depression.
The initial findings of the research, by the University of South Australia, also found conflict between working and home lives was associated with sleep problems, headaches, and an increase in anxiety.
Study “flawed’
But the Chamber of Minerals and Energy was quick to say the findings were flawed.
“Current mental health problems associated with fly-in fly-out workers in Western Australia compared to other employment types were statistically significantly lower,” a spokesman said in an interview with ABC.
Mental Health Commissioner Tim Marney told a public hearing on Wednesday that the apparent increase in FIFO suicides over the past 12 months was tragically not surprising.
“You visit any mine site, the emphasis on physical health is extreme (…) “If they put that sort of effort into awareness and support for mental health we’d be far better off,” he was quoted as saying by The Australian.
He added a senior mental health clinician was already looking into the recent deaths of the FIFO workers.
Image by Twin Design | Shutterstock.com.
9 Comments
Fletch Cooper
My depression started after I was retrenched and couldn’t get another job.I had gambled everything on a future as a geologist in mining.Moved to Kalgoorlie,got married again bought a house and believed all the stories of the 10 year boom.So I can easily understand workers suffering depression, and the culture is such that “harden up” is about as sympathetic a comment as you’re likely to hear.
Observer
If you are a contractor you are treated as trash and useful for a particular purpose, to be discarded later. Contractors are casual, working 4-5 weeks 12hours a day, then may spend the next 3 month’s finding the next contract job, and unable to be allowed to sign on the dole, so you use up any “Good money” you may have earned, so you are no better off, than working locally.
Kevin
I have been in both mining and construction for a number of years in Australia and abroad.
It is simply “a way of life” you either love it or you hate it.
In regards to conditions yes they have changed, for the better.
Salaries are higher due to the former demand generated by new projects from domestic and international investment.
Accommodation standards have increased, messing standards have increased, safety standards have increased even rotations are better for workers with families not too mention the health packages workers receive today.
One area that has changed though never gets a mention is the mindset of the workforce, more demands i.e. higher salaries, less work hours, less time on site (shorter rotations or more time off), less responsibility on the individual and more on the company they represent.
Our salaries are higher than most for one simple reason, the sacrifices WE choose for our chosen career paths.
The media is always quick to jump on the wagon and report on companies down sizing their work force, what the media fails to mention that most of the down sizing is actually sub contract workers, or general casual/short term workers within project (construction) work not direct operations personnel.
This is to be expected as it is simply project work i.e. build the infrastructure, commission and then hand over to the client to concentrate on operations, no project lasts for ever.
When the mining industry falls on hard times there are two areas impacted almost immediately one is “projects” and the other is “exploration”.
Whether mining companies are impacted from a fall in world markets or simple budget over runs there is a need to reduce expenditure that will always start with the non essentials that an operation (if managed correctly) can afford to moth ball until markets or operation revue allows.
If people want to earn the dollars then yes project work is where the money is though so is the sacrifice, if you can not handle the sacrifice then I suggest project work is not for you.
Rotations are long on project sites as it is simply not cost effective to operate with higher workforce numbers to cover additional shifts, remember all projects go out to tender and they must be won and the only way to win ongoing work is to be competitive with pricing as well as deliver in duration, quality and budget restraints.
If it is security and more family friendly rotation one is after then stay with operations and wreak the benefits though of course receive the lesser salary.
Bare in mind most mining is contracted out these days, plant operations and plant maintenance is still carried out in house (albeit with skeleton crews, contract labour used more so for planned shut downs) and then there is exploration to further develop resources and grade control.
Exploration how ever is not so secure as grade control can be managed with minimal numbers and future development can be put on hold so long as reserves allow.
One thing the media MUST start doing is differentiating between operations and project work, just because it is a processing facility or associated mining infrastructure in general does not mean it is a mining operation it is a project.
If this differentiation was to be reported factually you will see it is not an issue within mining as such though more an issue with people over committing themselves i.e. chasing the project work for the money then crying when the work dries up.
What gets me is this….the work never dries up, when projects go quiet in Australia there is always more somewhere else in the world and if you are serious and want the work then you will be prepared for some sacrifice and chase the work where ever it may be and manage your work and home life accordingly.
Not to mention further develop your skill set and qualifications to ensure more options.
A simple tip, live within your means, do not always believe the media and plan your own future of which includes work/home balance and financial stability.
Kevin (a typical Australian husband, brother, father working in the mining and construction industries stemming from a Mechanical Fitter then growing through the ranks from supervision to Maintenance Management to Project Management to Operations Manager, age 39).
Kevin
Well I am a contractor and I have not gone without work for at least 15 years.
You are correct in saying that that as a contractor one is useful for a particular purpose to be discarded later or more to the point redundant as the position and/or scope of work has been fulfilled or completed therefore no longer required as the project or that defined scope within the broader project scope of work is completed.
That is when the higher remuneration value earned over the duration will see one through to the next project if they so choose to go onto anther project whether it be with the same company (project availability dependent) or a different company.
I work in construction mostly these days because I choose to chase the money with that I accept the risk of not having ongoing work, it is a choice the individual makes not a choice the individual is forced into making.
Doesn’t seem to be a problem for myself or my family perhaps because I choose to reinvest my earnings into furthering my skillset/qualifications to ensure I am not limited for choice.
I also save the earnings to ensure we are covered throughout quiet times (between projects).
NB. 4-5 week rotations is good and standard world wide albeit most international project rotations are 8-9 weeks on with 2-3 weeks off though I have also worked 4 weeks on/2 weeks off and 12 weeks on/2 weeks off as an expatriate as well as non residential rotation doing 8 months straight all at my own choice!!!
All in the mining/construction industry remember it is your choice.
Kevin
Matt
Well, I am not sure that sitting on your arse in an office in the city is that much better for health and sanity. But I think mines in Canada tend to recognize some of the issues that go with camp life and try to address them. Better communications. Also shifts tend to be 4 weeks in maximum and 2 out minimum. Being away from family is not easy.
HardWorker
Firstly, I agree with everything that has been said below, I started in construction at age 24 because of the money, at 26 I had a motorbike accident and carry joint injuries forever, at 28 I caught Ross River Virus and was bed ridden for 9 months and out of physical work for 3.5 years.
I suffered from depression due to the amount of Codeine I had to take for the pain, so yes I understand what depression feels like.
At the time (1998-2001), RRV was not recognised as a crippling disease and I got no support from Centrelink, other than Jobsearch allowance, I still had to look for work even though I was sleeping 22 hours a day and had no physical strength. Eventually they cut my payments to $220 a fortnight, and I went down hill fast. One day I woke up realised that I had lost my Electrical career that I had worked bloody hard for, that added to the depression and dropped me another notch, yes into the crazy thought stage.
I also realised that there was no help available from Government for retraining or to support me while I couldn’t work and that my future would be in my hands.
I did a $500 clerical course (not G’ment funded or supported, I did not qualify for training) and I had to pay that off over 3 months. The only job I could get was on the Gold Coast for 2-3 hours a day, at $11 per hour ( this is in 2001, I was on $30 an hour before RRV), that also meant a 260 km round trip each day. I only earned $320 a fortnight minus tax.
I could only afford to live on Cornflakes and toasted sandwiches for 2 months and 2 litres of orange juice each week so I didn’t get scurvy, I’m not joking either.
After another 12 months I had recalibrated my body, through painful exercises, enough to regain work back in my Trade and eventually getting back into construction over a 3 year period.
Skip forward to the GFC, once again back to an average of about 20 hours per month for 18 months, doing on call work as that was all that was available and it was barely enough to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly.
When I could no longer afford to keep doing that I again I took my future into my own hands, emptied my work van of all of my contracting gear and put a mattress in the back and headed to Gladstone as it had the only job I could get at the time. I lived in my van in the car park where I worked for 6 months until that job finished, I then moved to the lookout near the power station for another 3 months as I couldn’t park out the front of the work site at the next job. I still had a mortgage in Brisbane and had to travel home at least each fortnight to do the home chores.
I eventually had enough money to add a few extra qualifications to help me with the next jobs I apply for.
Thanks for reading my sob story but the point I am making here is that,
1. I have been depressed, deeply depressed.
2. I have lost everything and had to start again, not just things, but my career and my identity.
3. I took control of MY future after I realised no-one else would help me.
4. I chose to make sacrifices by taking a step or two back, a few times, in order to move forward in the future.
5. I choose my career paths and I adapt it when I have to.
6. I took a big gamble and invested my spare money into myself, not the stock market, not the pokies, and not on luxuries like cars, boats and bikes.
We all have to do things we don’t want to have to do, the trick is to be grateful for every opportunity that you get, especially if it is a high paying job in the mines, many people want at least 1 chance to earn well, be thankful that, this month, it is your opportunity to succeed.
If you find that you can’t cope, change it, you are the only one who chooses your path, if you let others choose it for you, you have to accept that the outcome probably suits them more than you.
Talk to others, even a stranger, don’t force yourself on them, but as they have no vested interest in you, sometimes they can simplify things that you don’t see.
And just be thankful, every single day, that you live in the lucky country, you have opportunities and support that other people in this world don’t have.
You could be digging your own patch of desert for hours a day, just to try and feed yourself in some other parts of the world.
Two choices, Accept it, or Change it, your choice, simples.
Todd
Miners…check out the website jw.org It will give you a bright hope for the future. There is a wonderful future coming! It will help with depression and coping with everyday life.
LAMB
As a Canadian, I have done the FIFO work schedule (7days a week, 12 hours a day for 6 weeks o, 3 weeks off) and I observed that the chaps who work on these schedules are going bananas getting towards the end of their schedule – within 10 days of returning home, these guys were just talking about their ‘leave’ and were not concentrating on what they were doing in their work. It was obvious that they were stressed – a dangerous state given the safety component of a Mine. As a result, I never did go back to that project in Tanzania. Would I do it again? Perhaps, depending on the schedule – 4 in and 2 out would be better.
George
As an ex-fifo worker yes I realise that their are issues with peoples coping strategies. I looked around for different programs that would help me and others in the same boat and couldn’t find a course or program. Beyond Blue where too in your face and lifeline asked me to leave a number. Some more digging and I came across a firm called Flex Training Services, not onlu could they offer me a program to suit my needs but they had one that could help my partner cope with the issues of me being away. Its run by an ex-FIFO worker who really knows her stuff. It was a great day and I came away with more knowledge and some real hands on startegies that would just help. I think its about time that these big companies bring programs like this in. Programs that are just for the workers run by workers not some stuck up social worker who has never worked a day of FIFO in their lives.