FIFO workers and their families are calling for better support and facilities for COVID-19 contacts who have to isolate at remote mining camps, with fears that two weeks in a remote camp room, or donga, would be "hell".
The wife of one Perth-based FIFO worker said her husband, who has bipolar disorder, relies on routine and physical exercise to manage his mood.
The woman, who has asked not to be named for fear of jeopardising her husband's employment, said she is worried his mental health could deteriorate if he had to isolate in a small room for 14 days.
"With people with mental illness, the best support systems are your mental health professionals, family and close friends," she said.
"When you're onsite, you're already completely isolated from that.
"But then to add quarantine to that as well would be devastating for some FIFO workers, and their families as well."
Like other Western Australians, mine workers who are close contacts of a person with COVID-19 currently have to isolate for two weeks, the same as people who have tested positive for the virus.
Premier defies calls to halve isolation period
Under WA's current arrangements, close contacts are defined as those who have had face-to-face contact or shared a small space with a positive COVID-19 case for any amount of time.
This week, two cases at BHP's Yandi site in the Pilbara initially put more than 70 people into isolation.
Of those, 18 close contacts have been required to isolate for the full two weeks despite having all returned negative PCR tests.
A further 24 people are in isolation at 29Metals' Golden Grove mine at Yalgoo after one confirmed case at the Mid West mine. The company has not disclosed how many of those are close contacts.
The WA government has said it would reduce the isolation period to seven days when there was a higher caseload of COVID-19 in the community but has not disclosed what the caseload threshold will be.
Premier Mark McGowan addressed frustrations over the isolation period in an interview with ABC Radio Perth host Nadia Mitsopoulos on Thursday.
"In terms of case numbers [to prompt a reduced isolation period], we can't have a hard and fast rule … so it will be a combination of case numbers, how many are linked, how many people have been infectious in the community, [and] whether or not the cases are in high-risk settings."
The Western Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy has called for the government to halve its isolation period right away, rather than waiting for a higher caseload.
It has also asked for options for mine workers to safely repatriate to isolate at home.
"This will assist in managing the impact on business while protecting the health of our people, including the potential to assist with delivering better mental health outcomes," CME chief executive Paul Everingham said.
But WA Health said workers would only be repatriated in rare cases because movement of cases and close contacts could put others at risk.
"In exceptional circumstances, and with appropriate precautions, this has been done," the department said in an emailed response to questions.
"This is normally due to health reasons, such as needing emergency healthcare, or more rarely other reasons such as to move to a more appropriate premise for quarantine."
'It already feels so isolated'
The Perth woman whose husband works away said providing mental health support, and a place to isolate where her husband could exercise, would help him navigate the mental health impact of a two-week isolation period.
She said her husband's employer had not communicated what kind of support would be provided if he had to isolate.
She said he was too afraid to ask about isolating in a larger space because he feared discrimination over his mental illness.
Aidan Hilton, a FIFO worker whose job is in the Pilbara, said spending 14 days in a camp room "sounds like hell."
"It already feels so isolated, when you're out there at work," Mr Hilton said.
"You're away from friends, family, everything like that, and then to be pushed to that new extreme. I don't know how you would cope with it."
He said most rooms only had room for a bed, a cupboard, fridge and maybe a desk.
"You wouldn't be able to do any exercise in there," Mr Hilton said.
"After a few days I think it would really start getting to people."
Research shows COVID-19 impact on FIFO workers
Laura Fruhen, a lecturer in applied psychology at the University of Western Australia, has researched the impact of FIFO work on mental health before and after the pandemic began.
She said the mental health of these workers, who were already at higher risk of depression and anxiety, had deteriorated further in the era of COVID-19.
"Everyone is more stressed, more anxious during COVID-19," Dr Fruhen said.
"But we did find that FIFO workers — who had already started from a heightened level of psychological distress — for them, there was also a further increase of this experience that they were having."
She said some workers had already experienced roster changes that kept them onsite longer due to COVID-19 precautions.
"I think it's also important to recognise that having COVID-19 and having to quarantine can be quite an anxious thing to go through.
"So I think there would need to be additional support around managing possible fear and emotions around that."
Dr Fruhen said making rooms more livable should also be a consideration if more isolation was required as the number of COVID-19 cases increased.
Elizabeth Gaines, the chief executive of Fortescue Metals Group said the company had measures to support workers in the event of COVID-19 cases onsite.
"This includes providing iPads and reliable internet access so team members can stay connected with family and friends, supplying exercise equipment, as well as access to our dedicated pastoral care chaplaincy program and Employee Assistance Program," Ms Gaines said.
A Rio Tinto spokesperson said workers at its sites would have to "isolate in village accommodation until the Department of Health determines it is appropriate to isolate elsewhere or return home or to work".
The spokesperson said patient liaison officers were also available.
The group of BHP close contacts currently in isolation at Yandi are allowed to smoke and sit outside their rooms but not interact with each other, and they must exercise in their rooms. Internal television channels will air mindfulness exercises and daily gym classes are being provided online, said the company.
