‘Creepy’ note exposes grim reality of being a female FIFO worker
A 24-year-old mining worker was horrified to receive an unsolicited advance from a male colleague – but the note exposes a bigger problem.
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A female FIFO worker has exposed a grim reality about working on remote mining sites after receiving a “creepy” note from a male colleague.
Isabella, 24, had just woken up in her room ahead of her night shift starting when she discovered a piece of paper stuffed into the crack of her door.
After reading the letter, which was addressed to the “new girl, she was horrified to find it contained an unwanted sexual proposition from a male co-worker.
“It said, ‘if you want a free vape in exchange for a little something, let me know’,” she said.
He then proceeded to share his own room number.
Isabella was left wondering how the man, who she didn’t how, had obtained her room number and questioned if these concerning actions were a normal part of the FIFO lifestyle.
Sadly, a recent study has found the industry is still lagging in its approach to address the issue, despite the mining industry pledging to clean up the sector following the 2022 WA Parliamentary Inquiry into the ingrained culture of sexual harassment in the “fly-in fly-out” community.
The final report, titled “Enough is Enough”, determined women in the industry had been subjected to “an appalling range of behaviours”, as well as the “failure” of mining companies to act.
However a recent study conducted by The Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program into FIFO sexual misconduct published in March revealed one-in-five females in the mining sector still cop unwanted sexual attention and coercion while at work.
After sharing details of her experience online, Isabella’s comments section was quickly filled with other female workers with similar stories, with one even warning the young woman to “be careful”.
“Girl I’ve had this happen to me 3 times in 3 years of working FIFO, wait till you start finding random boxers in YOUR washing machine from people tryna send a message,” one woman replied.
“I’ve been in the FIFO game a long time. Report it – trust me,” another warned.
As one claimed: “He probably has been stalking you. Definitely report and keep copies of love notes.”
“If you’re at the camp I think you’re at, I’ve had so many creepy things happen to me there as well, girl is stressed,” stated another fly-in fly-out employee.
“U gotta watch out for those FIFO weirdos, they wont leave you alone,” stressed someone else.
While one alleged: “There is a rape culture in those mining camps... be careful.”
The damning MARS report was conducted over a four-year period and interviewed over 2500 sector workers in a bid to identify the causes and solutions to the problems exposed in the wake of the WA parliamentary inquiry.
One anonymous respondent told researchers she was “habitually harassed”.
“It just wore me down to the point where I just couldn’t take it anymore. It was really demoralising,” she said.
The study also found one-in-three female FIFO workers are subjected to “offensive sexist remarks” such as accusations they’re hired just to fill quotas.
Originally published as ‘Creepy’ note exposes grim reality of being a female FIFO worker
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