New South Wales' largest mine is vaccinating workers against COVID-19 on site, in a first for the Australian resources sector.
Mining giant BHP is working with the federal government to vaccinate staff at its Mt Arthur Coal Mine, near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley.
The mining sector came under the microscope after a COVID outbreak in the Northern Territory, and a mine at Boggabri in north-west NSW was closed after a false-positive scare among staff.
"Today we've got around 50 people signed up and then we're going to roll-out across our four shifts over the next week, four different days," Mt Arthur General Manager Adam Lancey said.
Mr Lancey hoped to reach 150 vaccinations by the end of next week, which equated to about 7.5 per cent of the 2,000-strong workforce.
He said many more had already gained a vaccine from their GP or other vaccine hubs.
He said the nature of shift work made it difficult for some staff to organise vaccine appointments.
"We cater for the fact that people do have a number of priorities at the moment, with homeschooling and potentially partners juggling work."
Vaccinations have not been mandated by BHP, but the company said it was monitoring the changing NSW COVID situation.
Vaccines, tests to keep community safe
Concerns have been raised about the transient nature of the workforce that moves around the Hunter, which has been battling an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Greater Newcastle region.
Mr Lancey said the vaccine trial, and recently introduced rapid-antigen testing of staff, offered surety to the workforce and wider community.
"We've been doing everything we possibly can, recognising that we do have people that do come from all different parts of the Hunter," he said.
"That's been really successful in helping ensure the safety of both the workforce and the broader community."
Mr Lancey said the steps taken to protect the industry gave peace of mind to staff.
"A lot of people are doing it really tough at the moment so being able to keep people employed, whatever industry it is and being able to receive an income and just keeping that peace of mind in the daily routine, I think is a huge thing.
More vaccines on the way
BHP has also funded a new vaccine hub in the coal mining town of Moranbah, in Central Queensland, which has been operating this week.
The company was also working with health authorities in South Australia and Western Australia "to help bolster vaccination rates" in the Roxby Downs, SA, and Pilbara, WA, regions.
In the NSW Upper Hunter, local MP Dave Layzell said everyone will be welcome at a mass vaccination drive at the Muswellbrook Indoor Sports Centre, on September 11.
"They've just got to bring their ID and their medicare card."
