FIFO employee films maggots crawling into his dinner at the Fortescue Metals Group’s Iron Bridge Project

A union has denounced cuts to a mining camp owned by Australia’s richest man as a ‘race to the bottom’ after a worker was served a maggot-infested steak.

A disturbing video of the meal was recorded earlier this year at camp for Fortescue Metals Group’s Iron Bridge Project, founded by Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest.

The worker stayed at the mine’s Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) camp, where workers receive shelter, food and recreational activities.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union claims the maggot-infested steak is just one example of the site’s poor conditions Western Australian reported.

AMWU boss Steve McCartney claims Fortescue is directly responsible for the steak incident as it cuts employee welfare costs, including catering.

“We know these guys have lowered the price per day on people,” Mr McCartney said.

“The company always blames the contractor, but we don’t blame the contractor.

“What we’re saying very clearly is that it’s the company’s responsibility to make sure food is good.

“We need government regulation to ensure… that a minimum of standards apply, otherwise it’s a race to the bottom.”

AMWU claims another area the camp is lacking is air conditioning with filters that often remain dirty, impacting how well the ACs can work.

The Iron Bridge Project camp is located in the Pilbara region of WA, south of Port Hedland, so workers face temperatures of around 40°C in the summer.

AMWU’s McCartney said the poor conditions could cause mental health problems for distressed workers.

He said the union “doesn’t mind” companies wanting to cut costs, but will object if the result of cuts endangers workers’ health and safety.

A spokeswoman for Fortescue told the Western Australians that their investigation into the maggot steak incident revealed that the maggots had fallen onto the food after it had been cooked.

“Samples of the larvae were tested and the results showed that it came from a species of fly commonly known in the Pilbara region that deposits live larvae,” she said.

‘To further improve and reduce the potential risk of insects and other pests entering the dining area, we have carried out a comprehensive review of all existing control measures.

‘In addition, these checks are frequently checked on a daily basis to prevent further incidents in the future.’

Fortescue claimed the maggots were laid after the meal was served, while the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union claimed the company’s cuts are “a race to the bottom” (pictured, maggots in worker’s steak)

She added that the camp village has air conditioners that are “cleaned often,” a gym, soccer field and swimming pools.

“The quality of our campsites is extremely important to us and we are committed to providing a safe and clean environment at all times,” she said.

The Iron Bridge Project was plagued with a series of budgetary problems that caused several executives to flee, including chief operating officer Greg Lilleyman and project director Don Hyma.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Fortescue for comment.