SUPERVISOR ON BHP SITE DISCIPLINED OVER CLAIMS OF ABUSE AND HARASSMENT
BY ELIZA KLOSER
A BHP train headed to Finucane Island. Credit: Bahnfrend.
Multiple contractor staff have said they were victims of abuse and harassment from a supervisor on a Pilbara BHP site, with one woman saying sexual comments made about her left her feeling “terrible” and “alone”.
BHP told Ngaarda Media that claims of unnaceptable behaviour against the supervisor were upheld by an investigation and the supervisor has not been on a BHP site since March.
In December last year, Ryszard Zielinski was starting his first night shift for a contractor on BHP’s Finucane Island site off the coast of Port Hedland.
When Zielinski got to the work site, the night shift supervisor handed him the safety paperwork for the job.
Zielinski said that as he was reading the first page the night shift supervisor told him: “Sign the thing, because this isn’t kindergarten.”
Zielinski said he would like to read the document, as it was a legal document and he wanted to make sure he understood what he was signing.
According to Zielinski, the nigh shift manager “started swearing” and said: “No time for reading, just sign it.”
The supervisor allegedly walked over to Zielinski, grabbed the paperwork out of his hands and threw it on the ground, and continued yelling at Zielinski.
Another worker on shift, Yulia Brown, told Ngaarda Media she started to pick up the paper and asked the supervisor if he could be nicer to new workers.
“He was like, ‘I don’t have to make nice to anyone’,” Ms Brown said.
Zielinski said other staff told him the supervisor often swore and abused at people at work.
Zielenski and Brown said the abuse continued throughout the entire shift.
“He kept going,” Zielenski said. “His behaviour was terrible: abusing me and abusing other people.”
Brown said: “All night we were sad and upset with what happened.”
The next morning, both Zielenski and Brown reported their experience to the day shift supervisor, who told them to report it to BHP.
Mr Brown and Mr Zielinski were contracted by Thuysenkrupp and FLSmith at the time of the complaints.
After reporting the incident to the BHP office, Zielenski and Brown were removed from the site.
“How can they just remove this victim straight away?” Brown said.
“I don’t know what to do; it left me in the dark by myself. I was sad you know.”
A few days later, a co-worker told Ms Brown that the supervisor was in the crib room with a team of four other people when a co-worker asked “Where is Yulia?.”
The co-worker said the supervisor replied: “Oh she’s just out there playing ping pong with her f**king c**t.”
Brown had been working on BHP sites for 12 years throughout the Pilbara and was shocked by the comments allegedly made about her by a supervisor.
“BHP told me that everyone receives the same respect, regardless of race, gender, everything,” she said.
“What [the supervisor] said: it’s just wrong.”
Electrical Trades Union Northwest Lead Organiser Paul Ferreira said BHP would not respond to his concerns about the incident until he went to the media.
“It’s very disappointing, considering there was an inquiry into sexual harassment and sexual assaults of workers in the FIFO community,” he said.
“In late 2022, I did make a complaint for it to get followed up on.
“I constantly sent emails to BHP and they ignored me."
“As soon as I mentioned that I'll be looking at going to the media about this though, they were very quick to respond.”
A spokesperson from BHP told Ngaarda Media: “BHP is committed to creating a safe and respectful workplace where people are able to perform at their best and feel safe to speak up.
“We regret that Ms Brown and Mr Zielinski did not have a positive experience with us through their work as contractors.
“Their claims were referred to their employer for investigation. Following review of the investigation report, one of the complaints of disrespectful behaviour was upheld and subsequent disciplinary action was taken.”
The investigation was completed in February 2023 and BHP told Ngaarda Media the subject of the investigation has not been on a BHP site since March.