Fly-in-fly-out and remote-site workers

Working on rotation, far from home, brings a particular kind of strain - long stretches away, disrupted routines, and the ache of missing everyday family life. This is a genuine adjustment, and there is a lot you can do to protect your wellbeing through it.

What it is

Fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) and remote-site work, common in mining, construction, energy and engineering sectors, involves working intense blocks of time away from home followed by short periods back with family. This rhythm can be hard on relationships, sleep, and mental health. Isolation, limited privacy, physically demanding or dangerous work, and the emotional whiplash of constantly arriving and leaving can build up over months and years, even for people who cope well at first. Research consistently shows that remote and rotational work carries elevated risk for loneliness, relationship strain and mental health difficulties compared with regular home-based work.

Signs to notice

• Dread or anxiety building in the days before returning to site
• Feeling like a stranger in your own home during time off
• Increasing use of alcohol to fill downtime on site
• Sleep difficulties linked to shift patterns or unfamiliar accommodation
• Irritability, low mood or a flat, going-through-the-motions feeling
• Growing distance or conflict in your relationship with a partner or children
• Physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches or stomach issues that do not resolve with rest

What helps

• Build small rituals into rotation life - a regular call home time, exercise routine, or hobby that gives structure to time on site.
• Use downtime on site for genuine rest, not just filling hours - sleep and recovery are protective for mood and focus.
• Communicate openly with family about the emotional adjustment of coming and going, rather than pretending it is easy.
• Limit alcohol use on site, especially as a way to cope with boredom or loneliness, as it often worsens sleep and mood.
• Stay connected with a few trusted colleagues on rotation who understand the lifestyle - shared experience reduces isolation.
• Plan the transition home deliberately, giving yourself and your family a day or two to readjust rather than expecting instant normality.

When to reach out for help

If dread, low mood or relationship strain is building over successive rotations, or if alcohol use is increasing, it is time to speak to someone. FIFO and remote work are linked to higher risk of mental health strain, so proactive support is worthwhile even before things feel like a crisis.

Getting help in South Africa

Cleared Mind's EAP is available to remote and rotational workers by phone or online, wherever you are based, so support does not depend on being near a city. SADAG's Mental Health Line (011 234 4837) can also help with support and referrals for you and your family.

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If you or someone else is in immediate danger, reach out now. SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline (24h): 0800 567 567 or SMS 31393. SAPS 10111, ambulance 10177, GBV Command Centre 0800 428 428.