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Update for South Australia's energy and mining sectors

As of 12:01 am 19 November 2020 the State Emergency Coordinator has released Emergency Management (Stay at Home) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 as a six-day circuit breaker while SA Health conducts an intensive contact tracing and testing blitz to contain a COVID-19 cluster.

This Direction restricts the physical movement of people in South Australia for the next six days until 12:01 am 25 November 2020. Following discussions with SAPOL, the following advice outlines the application of the Direction to South Australia’s resources and energy sector:

  • The purpose of the Direction is to limit movement and public interactions. In the public interest, and in the interest of the sector, all companies should immediately avoid employee movement wherever possible, other than facilitating return to their home locations where appropriate.
  • Changeover of Fly-in/Fly-out (FIFO) and Drive-in/Drive-out (DIDO) rosters can occur where those staff are critical to essential infrastructure operations, or the operation of any facility that is not able to be shut down without causing damage or loss to plant and equipment - but only those operations that are necessary to prevent that damage or loss. This includes interstate FIFO. Movements should be minimised and avoided where possible. Asymptomatic testing prior to deployment is recommended.
  • FIFO and DIDO resource sector workforces that are already accommodated on site may continue to work or may return to their home locations (and stay home) at any time in the next six days. For remote resources sector operations, this means operations can continue with in situ workforces, rather than have employees isolated in camps for the duration of the Direction or being required to return home. This does not expand the scope of FIFO/DIDO changeovers described above.
  • Local workforces can continue to support essential infrastructure and essential services operations (within the meaning of the Essential Services Act 1981), or the operation of any facility that is not able to be shut down without causing damage or loss to plant and equipment - but only those operations that are necessary in order to prevent that damage or loss. This includes sites such as BHP Roxby Downs, Nyrstar Port Pirie, GFG Whyalla and Ardrossan, SANTOS Port Bonython, and all essential power generation operations. Movement between Adelaide and regional South Australia must be avoided wherever possible.
  • Activities that form part of the supply chain for essential infrastructure operations, or the operation of any facility that is not able to be shut down without causing damage or loss to plant and equipment, but only those operations that are necessary to prevent that damage or loss, can continue with minimum possible staff and staff movements. This means supply and services that cannot be delayed for the next six days such as critical inputs to production including quarried materials required to sustain plant operations, export activities or services without the supply of which will result in failure or safety risk.
  • Maintenance shutdown and critical installation activities underway at resource processing and energy generation sites may continue with minimum possible staff and staff movements.
  • Resource exploration at remote sites, where exploration teams are already deployed and accommodated on site in isolation from the community, may continue.
  • Wearing of masks on site is not compulsory. A common sense approach appropriate to each site is advised.
  • It is advisable that employers issue letters to any employees who will be moving in accordance with the above guidance, including company name, site location, worker name, and essential role.

The intent of the Direction is clear: absolute minimum movement and interaction of people across South Australia for the next six days, with relevant exceptions for ensuring power supplies and our major resource production operations do not fail.

Significant and enduring practical and reputational effects would arise from a COVID-19 outbreak within our industry, so I thank you in advance for your compliance with the Direction, and your ongoing commitment to COVID-safe operations.

Continue to liaise directly with martin.reid@sa.gov.au in relation to specific questions you may have on this Direction.

Stay well
Paul Heithersay

Thursday 19 November 2020

Read more on the Department for Energy and Mining COVID-19 response