It is a component of research for the state population study, DETECT,, which has already been rolled out in schools. 

 

It plans to carry out 30,000 tests across the project's lifetime. 

 

It is being funded by industry and has been endorsed by the state's Chamber of Minerals and Energy and is led by Curtin University and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. 

 

"Last week we announced our DETECT research program would commence with the testing of students and staff at 80 public schools, and now this study is being expanded to FIFO workers from some of our major mining companies," premier Mark McGowan said. 

 

The tests target those who display no symptoms which the government said is the second pillar of the joint initiative between the health department and state research community and is designed to "provide greater certainty around possible undetected transmission of the disease in the state". 

 

There has been little community transmission in Western Australia and the program may assist in developing a broader base of evidence on how to make policy decisions and ease restrictions, the government hopes. 

 

"While our number of COVID-19 cases is very low in Western Australia, we must not become complacent and should continue to adopt social distancing and good hand hygiene," health minister Roger Cook said. 

 

"We are very pleased that industry is supporting and collaborating with this component of DETECT and that the Chamber of Minerals and Energy is in full support.

 

Most of Australia's large oil companies have cut back on FIFO workers not so much thanks to restrictions given energy is seen as an essential service but over offshore infection concerns. 

 

Rosters, cut backs of contractors and pay while in isolation have been contentious issues for unions.