Mineworkers at Blackwater mine are demanding greater transparency from BHP after the company confirmed a mineworker had tested positive for COVID-19.
CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland President Stephen Smyth said the workforce had received minimal information about the matter including potential exposure and how tracing would take place.
“BHP says that the risk of becoming infected in the workplace remains low – but if workers are not given all the information it’s difficult for them to have confidence that they are being kept safe,” said Mr Smyth.
“In this case, there are multiple points of potential cross-contamination including machinery, transport, mess facilities and camp accommodation.
“Workers across the whole operation need reassurance that all of these risks have been identified, that they are being managed and that all potential exposure will be appropriately tracked.
“Mineworkers are continuing to go to work in good faith through this pandemic to keep the industry going.
“They are in the hands of their employers to keep them safe and the very least they deserve is full transparency about confirmed cases and how they are being managed.”
The Union has sought from BHP a full explanation of the protocols it has in place to manage confirmed cases of COVID-19 at its operations.
Mr Smyth said the Union’s thoughts were with the affected worker, who is part of the Operations Services maintenance team at Blackwater.
“We are thinking of this worker and his family at this difficult time and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
