FIFO risk hard to find, often unreported
A recent survey by the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union has revealed widespread fear among FIFO workers, who are worried that seeking help for mental health problems would affect their job security.
There are even reports of workers choosing not to take prescribed anti-depressant medication for fear of losing their jobs.
The WA Government is currently holding an inquiry into the impacts of fly-in, fly-out rosters on mental health.
The stereotype says that the ‘macho’ culture on mine-sites is the main reason fly-in, fly-out workers can be reluctant to seek help, but AMWU says the fear of appearing weak is not the only thing keeping some stuck in a dangerous cycle.
“People are too scared to identify the fact that they did have a mental health issue, to point where some people weren't taking their medication, or anti-depressants, for fear of it coming up in a urine test, for drug and alcohol testing on the job, exposing themselves with a mental illness and getting the sack,” AMWU WA secretary Steve McCartney has told the ABC.
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies has strongly denied that any of its companies would sack somebody for having a mental illness – it also says that mining has been unfairly targeted, as depression is not unique to the industry.
The Manufacturing Union’s Pilbara said he would like to see mining and construction companies tackle mental health in the same way as they do physical health; through strict, enforceable Occupational Health and Safety policies.
“What they think is a shiny pamphlet with a telephone number is the way to go forward. Well we're saying quite clearly is it's not even close to being enough. I worked FIFO from ’82 to ‘95 and I can tell you there is real issues around FIFO, it's about isolation from your family, it's around poor communication with your family, it's about the culture on the job,” he said.