BHP's Dead Zone

• General News
• 9th October 2012

It looks like a Gulag and feels like a Gulag

We are not sure if it is part of a ‘dehumanisation gulag’ set up by BHP in the lead up to the introduction of robots but their latest security measures certainly have a concentration camp look about them.

Out in the middle of nowhere hire wire fences with turnstile gates have been constructed around what the company calls the ‘transition zone’.

Workers either drive or are bussed in and dropped off at the gates where they are checked by a security guard before having to undergo drug and alcohol testing.

Once this is done they are bussed down to the worksite where they previously assembled before starting their shift.

Employees say the process, which is repeated at the end of shifts, has pushed out their working day up to 14 hours.

And the facilities provided at the gate are extremely poor. No lockers, bathroom and wash-up facilities, shade, tea or coffee.

In a petition to the company they are demanding to be treated with respect and dignity.

They say the extra hours added to their working day cuts into family time and causes fatigue – which is a serious health and safety issue.

All the bussing in and bussing out for no apparent reason is doing people’s heads in.

The unions will present the petitions to BHP management and endeavour to get the company to back track on the ridiculous changes they have implemented.