Overcoming major logistical challenges, Jobfit has minimised disruption and provided cost savings while delivering on-site medical assessments for long-term client Rio Tinto.
Jobfit conducted a two-week intensive period of on-site medical assessments in March 2024 for Rio Tinto’s mining employees in Weipa, Far North Queensland.
A small but dedicated team of Jobfit clinicians travelled to Weipa to conduct RSHQ (Resources Safety and Health Queensland) and MMQ (Mineral Mine and Quarry) medical assessments for approximately 330 staff at Rio Tinto’s Weipa-based bauxite mine. Jobfit’s clinicians were also joined by two I-MED Radiology members.
The team stayed on-site and in-camp, ensuring continuous service throughout the duration of the project. Effective coordination and communication were critical to the project’s success.
“Effective on-site communication is crucial because it helps build essential trust with the client,” says Jobfit Regional Manager NSW/ACT/QLD Timothy Whicker.
Despite being one of the largest towns on the Cape York Peninsula, Weipa is located approximately 10 hours from Cairns and 29 hours from Brisbane. For Tim and the wider Jobfit team, Weipa’s remoteness posed logistical hurdles — including transporting equipment and supplies.
“We used overnight air freight to get the necessary equipment to Weipa and ensure the project launched on time. It was an interesting logistical challenge, but we rose to the occasion as a team,” says Tim.
For Jobfit’s team of on-site nurses, each day was dedicated to coordinating pre-employment and periodic medicals per the RSHQ and MMQ guidelines. These included chest X-rays conducted using on-site mobile imaging equipment, spirometry to assess lung function, and general medical examinations conducted remotely or onsite by our doctors.
“By conducting on-site medicals, workers can complete their necessary examinations without having to leave the site during their R&R periods, which minimises disruption for the workers during their time off,” says Tim.
“Despite the logistical challenges, there’s a huge cost benefit to the client for Jobfit to perform on-site medicals. The convenience is priceless.”
Jobfit has partnered with Rio Tinto since 2009, providing medical services across various sites across Australia, including Gladstone and Yarwun. This long-standing relationship facilitated seamless collaboration and trust which are essential for the execution of such a complex project.
This project highlighted several key takeaways, including the importance of meticulous planning and communication with clients, in addition to being prepared to handle last-minute changes and unexpected challenges.
This project also serves as a valuable reference for similar future endeavours, demonstrating the benefits of on-site medical services in remote locations.
Whatever the needs of the company or the number of employees, Jobfit can structure and provide onsite medical services suitable to those needs.
Get in touch to learn more about Jobfit’s Onsite Services.
