In recent weeks, a number of key changes have been announced in relation to mandatory vaccination of workers in the resources and energy sector.

Western Australia update

Last Tuesday (5/12) the Western Australian Government flagged its mandate for FIFO and local workers on WA mining and resources sites, and people who work in remote operations or run critical infrastructure including remote train and port control.

All workers in these sectors must have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by December 1, 2021 and be fully vaccinated by January 1, 2022.

In a media statement, Premier Mark McGowan said the mandate would apply to any FIFO worker in WA, in mining, oil and gas and exploration, visitors to these operations, as well as all resources sector employees who work at regional and remote mine sites.

It will also include workers at other mission critical operational locations including remote operations, for example, a Perth-based remote operator of a Hedland mining train.

“The new directions will address the risks posed by movement of resources sector workers, including mining and oil and petroleum operations, to and from regional and remote locations in WA, with many sites and operations located at or near remote Aboriginal communities,” Premier McGowan said.

“The mandate, based on the latest health advice, applies to any FIFO worker in WA, in mining, oil and gas and exploration, visitors to these operations, as well as all resources sector employees who work at regional and remote mine sites. It will also include workers at other mission critical operational locations including remote operations, for example, a Perth-based remote operator of a Hedland mining train.

“Resources sector workers potentially come into contact with Aboriginal people from remote communities, which means there is a risk that COVID-19 could enter a community from an infected worker. The sector is also the largest employer of Aboriginal people in the regions.

“Factors which increase Aboriginal people’s susceptibility to serious disease from COVID-19 include higher rates of other chronic health issues, difficulties in accessing health care and high levels of mobility.”

Employers will be responsible for collecting and maintaining records of vaccinated workers. In alignment with other mandatory vaccination directions, there will be provisions for exemptions for approved medical reasons.

Premier McGowan said the vaccination timeline has been reached to give workers and employers enough time to access vaccination, especially if they are mid-swing.

He said the mandate was a “major step forward” to protect workers and wider communities and families, ensuring the state’s resources sector “not only continues to thrive and operate, but powers the national economy during uncertain times”.

It follows similar moves to mandate COVID-19 vaccination in other industries, including ports, transport, freight and logistics, health care and aged care.

Following the government mandate, WA miners including Rio Tinto, BHP and Mineral Resources,  have announced their workforces will require to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Announcement provides relief – AREEA

AREEA supports the WA Government in moving forward with a blanket vaccination order for all site-based resources sector workforces.

Ensuring the health and safety of all employees and visitors to worksites, as well as regional and remote communities, is of the upmost importance to all resources and energy employers.

For many AREEA members balancing this foremost responsibility with the legal and ethical issues of company vaccination mandates has been a significant challenge during the pandemic.

While complying with the pending public health order will provide its own set of practical challenges, the government’s announcement will provide certainty and relief to employers previously grappling with whether to move on their own.

AREEA members are reminded that no public health order has yet been issued to give effect to the WA Government’s announcement – just as no public health order has yet been issued to give effect to the similar announcement of the Victorian Government on Friday 1 October.

Therefore, you should be preparing to act upon the government announcements – for example by communicating their implications to employees – but not yet issuing any directions until the official public health orders are made and published.

Further AREEA updates will be provided following the WA Government’s issuing of the public heath order in relation to this mandate.

Victoria’s Authorised Workers require COVID-19 vaccination

On 1 October,  the Victorian Government announced all workers in Melbourne and regional Victoria on the Authorised Worker list will require their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday, 15 October in order to continue working on-site. They will need to be fully vaccinated by 26 November. Separate timelines remain in place for groups that already had vaccination mandates, such as construction workers, who must have had at least one dose before working on-site from next Tuesday (5 October).

Notably for the resources, energy and supply industries, the Authorised Worker list includes a number of relevant roles for AREEA members, including:

The public health order giving effect to this announcement can be found here: COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination (Workers) Directions. It contains a full list of definitions including the various ‘Authorised Worker’ categories, which covers almost all of Victoria’s workforce including resources and energy sector employees.