a new drinking limit following a broad review which surveyed almost 2000 employees.
“We have also reviewed our alcohol service limits and will shortly introduce a limit of no more than four mid-strength alcoholic drinks in a 24 hour period,” she said. Noting that the circumstances which led to the inquiry were “deeply distressing and disturbing”, Gaines personally apologised to any employee who had experienced sexual harassment at Fortescue’s operations.
The new drinking limits announced by the company follows similar moves by fellow resources giants BHP and Rio Tinto.
In August this year, Rio Tinto informed the parliamentary committee that since 1 January 2020, the company has substantiated 29 cases of sexual harassment and one case of sexual assault within its FIFO operations, while another report of sexual assault and 14 allegations of sexual harassment are being investigated.
Echoing the views of its fellow executives, the company’s iron ore chief Simon Trott noted that while the problem was under-reported across the sector, the company is determined to ensure its workforce is safe from sexual harassment, psychosocial harm, and racism and bullying.
“I’m appalled and sickened by the stories I’ve heard, the things that I have read about, people’s experience in our business and in the industry,” he said. “To anyone who has experienced any form of sexual harassment or sexual assault within our business, I’m sorry, I’m deeply sorry, and I stand before the inquiry today to commit to doing better to eliminate these behaviours from all areas of our business.”
