WA greenlights mining workforce safety study

Mines and Petroleum and Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston has announced the successful tender for a study into mental health and workplace culture across Western Australia’s mining sector. The Centre for Transformative Work Design, part of the Future of Work Institute at Curtin University, will undertake a four-year research project to gather and evaluate data on sexual assault, harassment, mental health, drug and alcohol use, and emerging mine safety issues.

The study will be part of Western Australia’s Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety program, which was launched in December 2021 to address health and safety in the WA mining industry. The preliminary findings, expected to be completed by September 2022, will be used to develop mental health and workplace culture initiatives and improve safety outcomes. A panel comprised of staff from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, the Mental Health Commission and the Department of Communities reviewed the submissions received as part of the tender process. The Centre for Transformative Work Design strives to research and understand work design to encourage wellbeing and greater productivity.

Johnson said the WA Government will continue to work with industry and the community across all sectors to eliminate all forms of harassment, bullying and discrimination in the workplace.

“Workers and their families are the backbone of WA’s mining sector and we remain committed to ensuring they work in a safe environment. Important steps have already commenced to create safe, gender-equitable and inclusive workplaces through the implementation of the Stronger Together: WA’s Plan for Gender Equality plan and the WA Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Strategy. Health and safety champions such as the Centre for Transformative Work Design will play an important role in shaping our future workforce,” Johnston said.

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