Anglo American mandates vaccination at its Australian mine sites, offices and camps

Following in the footsteps of BHP’s bold move to require full vaccination at its mine sites and offices, another global player has just told its workforce it is poised to follow suit. Take the poll.

Anglo American has today advised its workforce of plans to mandate double-dose vaccination against Covid-19 as a condition of entry to all Australian sites, offices and camps from March 1, 2022.

It follows BHP’s decision in October to make Covid vaccinations mandatory for all mine workers and visitors to its operations.

A final decision will be made after a further period of consultation on a draft Covid-19 vaccination policy.

Anglo says the draft policy was developed following detailed risk assessments and workforce consultation over recent months.

Anglo American’s Australian CEO Tyler Mitchelson said these processes, together with expert medical advice, determined vaccination was the best way to protect their workforce and communities from the virus.

Anglo American’s Australian CEO Tyler Mitchelson. Picture: Mike Ellis Photography/Contributed

“In developing our draft Covid-19 vaccination policy, we have taken into account expert health advice as well as the comparably low rates of vaccination in the areas we operate in,” he said.

“It’s very likely we will see Covid-19 cases increase throughout Queensland over coming months and we believe we have an obligation to help protect the more than 5500 people who work for us in Queensland, as well as our local communities.

“Vaccination is the best way to help keep our people and communities safe.

“Many of our workforce live in nearby local communities, but there are also people who commute to work from Mackay, Rockhampton and other regional centres as well as south-east Queensland.

“We recognise that once Covid-19 cases do start to occur more frequently in Queensland, the risk of transmission due to people movements will be higher.

“We understand there are certain cases where people cannot get vaccinated, and we would work with these individuals to assess their individual circumstances under an exemption process within our draft policy.”

Anglo American’s Moranbah North Mine.

Anglo American is providing opportunities for employees and embedded contractors to be vaccinated during work time.

BHP went out alone two months ago, in fierce opposition to the Mining and Energy Union and anecdotal grumblings of its workers.

“We have undertaken a thorough assessment and believe this is the right path forward to protect the health of our people, their families and the communities where we operate – including remote Indigenous communities – while continuing to safely run our operations,” BHP Minerals Australia president Edgar Basto said.

Yancola, Stanmore, Peabody and Glencore are all strongly recommending vaccinations but have not made vaccinations mandatory for entry to their mine sites.