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Footage of a maggot-filled steak served at a Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) mine site in Western Australia’s Pilbara region has prompted mass outrage across the state.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) slammed the conditions workers are forced to live with, and is now calling on the government to investigate.
This unsightly video was captured by a FIFO worker and shows wriggling maggots crawling in and around the steak.
The AMWU claims the video was taken at Fortescue’s Iron Bridge Village in March, where working conditions at the Pilbara site have fallen well below standard.
Poor quality and low-nutrition meals have been served to employees working 12-hour shifts, they say.
The union also claims there have been several complaints about living conditions on the site including unclean air conditions and vents.
“What else? Black mould in showers, dirty and unchanged bed linen,” AMWU’s Steve McCartney said.
Calls have now mounted on the state government to investigate just how much is spent on catering per head for FIFO and drive-in-drive-out sites.
The union also want a remote site healthy food code for the resources industry.
Premier Roger Cook said WorkSafe would investigate the quality and safety of the food.
In a statement, FMG said it has investigated the incident and found it is highly likely the food became contaminated after being served.
Samples of the larvae found that they were from a species of fly commonly known to the Pilbara region – flesh flies – which deposits live larvae.
FMG said to reduce the risk of insects and other pests entering the dining area, they have conducted a comprehensive assessment of all existing control measures and checks will be carried out daily.
