Rio Tinto chief executive Jakob Stausholm has vowed to build a less hierarchical, more humane company after an external assessment of the miner’s culture found bullying is systemic and sexual harassment and racism are common.

Engagement with more than 10,000 Rio staff left former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick with the impression that workers at the multinational miner do not feel “psychologically safe” and a “culture of silence” made them reluctant to report incidents.