Orica
    (147 reviews)

    Company Reviews

    Working at Orica

    2.9147 ratings in total
    5
    33
    4
    26
    3
    20
    2
    31
    1
    37
    86%
    Rate salary as high or average
    49%
    Employees recommend this employer to friends
    Work/Life balance
    3.1(147 ratings)
    Career development
    2.8(147 ratings)
    Benefits & perks
    2.8(147 ratings)
    Management
    2.4(147 ratings)
    Working environment
    2.9(147 ratings)
    Diversity & equal opportunity
    3.1(147 ratings)
    Ratings for Orica are shared as-is from employees in line with our community guidelines

    Reviews

    Showing 147 reviews sorted by most recent
    Sort by
    most recent
    1.0
    Site Supervisor
    Jan 2026
    Port Hedland, Karratha & Pilbara WA8 to 9 years in the role, former employee
    Operating at an under resourced capacity most of the time with a aging fleet with next to no support
    The good thingsIn my many roles I got travel around a lot in the Pilbara and I got to work at many mine sites and saw how they operated. I also got to work in the Quarry plant and the manufacturing ANE plant in Port Hedland and various big to one man sites. was a great place to learn and I definitely learnt a lot going from a Trainee MMU Operator to Supervisor. There are some very knowledgeable people there to learn from
    The challengesI think because I had a lot of prior skills and able to operate solo and under pressure keeping aging assets operating and clients happy, I was always sent to failing or difficult projects to turn them around which after 7 years in the end put me through burnout, had given multiple warnings I was struggling with workload to multiple senior managers but that fell on deaf ears, the hard part for me in the end was the lying and lack of humility from territory managers and business manager of the Pilbara team. Upon returning to work after burnout I was sent straight back to working in the same environment where I had an incident then fired. Transparency, accountability and safety seem to be their values but only on the posters in the office. A great place to start your mining fifo journey then move on. Stay away from the one man sites as the workload is too much and there is no support when stuff breaks down and you soly have to answer to angry mining clients and come up with solutions.
    1 person found this helpful
    3.0
    Distribution Team Worker
    Dec 2025
    Helidon QLD 4344Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Great place to work if youre happy being a sheeple...
    The good thingsPay was adequate. Some of the other team members were awesome, others weren't. 1hr of breaks during an 11 hrs shifts were closer to 3 hrs total especially on weekends.
    The challengesVery hot conditions in summer - poor ventilation & no fans in sheds. Poor lighting in winter ‐ no internal lighting. Not hard job if you can put up with managers & trainers who micro manage everything. If you apply here don't bother taking your commonsense as you won't need it - they'll train you the Orica way & any previous experience counts for nothing.
    5.0
    Technical Services
    Jul 2025
    Kurri Kurri NSW 232710 to 11 years in the role, current employee
    Great company to work for if you are self-motivated and passionate about blasting and technology. It is a completely different lifestyle to working for a Mine and that fluidity and flexibility is not something that everyone can thrive in - though I wouldn't want it any other way!
    The good thingsThe Technical support and technological ambition of Orica make it a fascinating place to work. No matter what situation you are in there is always high-level support within the organization for you to collaborate with in support of your customers.
    The challengesOrica is a large company with many different components and sub-cultures. At times the big wheels can turn slowly or in directions you can't always understand right away.
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    warehouse coodnator
    Jun 2025
    Brisbane QLD 4000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    I am not recommended.
    The good thingsFirst day of work, seems as a great and good atmosphere, great expectations
    The challengesNot proper training, nobody care about beginner. I put my effort, my experience, my time, my extra working time, my wish work in the company for nothing. I feel used...
    1 person found this helpful
    1.0
    Senior Mobile Manufacturing Unit Operator
    Apr 2025
    Deer Park VIC 30234 to 5 years in the role, former employee
    It was good at the start enjoyable but management showed there true colours once the settled in.
    The good thingsWork with good bunch of guys out on the job and around the yard.
    The challengesToxic management there way or the high way really, pretend to care but they don't. Watch you from a far and on cameras to try catch you out and Wright you up.
    4 people found this helpful
    5.0
    Human Resources Professional
    Mar 2025
    Cannon Hill QLD 4170
    Orica is an incredible place to work. It's where innovative thinkers and hard workers not only have their say but are genuinely heard and valued and get remunerated well!
    The good thingsOrica has given me an inclusive environment with dedicated, like-minded professionals who genuinely want to help. I'm really proud of our Reconciliation Action Plan efforts. What I appreciate most is that I'm not just a number here; my opinions are valued and acknowledged.
    The challengesI'm proud that we lead the global market in our field. This however brings its own set of rewarding challenges. We continuously evolve and adapt our technologies to meet market demands and stay ahead of the competition. There's something new and exciting to learn every day that keeps me on my toes!
    1.0
    Mobile Manufacturing Unit Operator
    Jan 2025
    Stockton NSW 22955 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Production over crew safety and wellbeing everytime...it's just load load load.
    The good thingsNot working for a bunch of heroes anymore
    The challengesThe pits can be closed to everyone else on the mine site for safety reasons but never to Orica...
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Supervisor
    Dec 2024
    Townsville QLD 4810
    Wonderful company to work for, full of opportunity with a wide range of career paths
    The good thingsDiverse company full of opportunities
    The challengeslittle to no challenges
    1.0
    Supervisor
    Oct 2024
    Perth WA 60009 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    A negative waste of time - unless you want to stagnate in the same position get overworked and underappreciated till you quit.
    The good thingsThe work is actually enjoyable - if your left alone long enough to enjoy it.
    The challengesToxic, micromanaging, lying management Will promise you anything - and never fulfil these promises., will push you and push you when it cant happen - even when the issues facing productivity are implemented by them. Then hold anyone beneath them accountable.
    7 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Site Supervisor
    Sep 2024
    Kalgoorlie WA 64305 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Good people dont quit because of the workload
    The good thingsThe structure of the traineeship in theory was amazing. Working with many different personalities and bomb crews were great. the amount of physical vs office work was the right amount. Some really great people with real world knowledge
    The challengesthe structure of the trainee ship was hit and miss between if you got meh mentors or amazing mentors and then there was the training person who was just never available to get you signed off and never actually trained you and couldn't answer many questions you had. Some management are only in their positions because there was no where else in the business could have put them. This would reflect with good people quitting and under trained staff falling in positions they are not confident or equipped to do.
    3 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Mobile Mixing Unit Operator
    Jul 2024
    Adelaide SA 5000Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Progression is slow & full of false Promises
    The good thingsSome great people and mateship
    The challengesToxic older workers stuck in there ways .
    1 person found this helpful
    2.0
    Shotfirer
    Jul 2024
    Newcastle, Maitland & Hunter NSW1 to 2 years in the role
    They're amazing at branding and advertising thier values. Let me tell you this is all smoke and mirrors. I was shocked. Happy I know now. Keep looking.
    The good thingsThey have great tech, skilled people and there's opportunities to grow.
    The challengesHorrible culture. It's infected. Not sure how they fix it to be honest. Place is tainted.
    6 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Magazine Keeper
    Jun 2024
    Helidon QLD 4344Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Very toxic, micromanage, disgraceful environment
    The good thingsGood money if you want the overtime and have no life.
    The challengesMicromanage, spoken to rudely. No progression for any career opportunities.
    4 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Mobile Manufacturing Unit Operator
    Oct 2023
    Deer Park VIC 30235 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Don't work here.
    The good thingsWalking out the front gate.
    The challengesToxic work place, no safety, your just a number and trust no one
    15 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Shotfirer
    Sep 2023
    Cadia NSW 28001 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Made the jump from mining to go to what I thought was a professional outfit. Don't make the same mistake.
    The good thingsSome good operators on the crew but you can get that anywhere.
    The challengesMost unprofessional company I've worked for. Terrible management. Completely understaffed.
    7 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Packing Operator
    May 2023
    Kalgoorlie WA 6430Less than 1 year in the role, former employee
    Good enviroment, good people
    The good thingsGood team enviroment and working ethics/practices
    The challengesSometimes can be under pressure if count goal isn't met
    1 person found this helpful
    5.0
    Manager
    Apr 2023
    Perth WA 600011 to 12 years in the role, current employee
    Highly recommend a career with Orica
    The good thingsSafety culture Genuinely care about their employees Zero tolerance for inappropriate work place behavior Career opportunities Good salaries
    The challengesPeople resources and trucks
    1.0
    Shotfirer/operator
    Jan 2023
    You are only a number to management to make up their numbers on shift, so they don’t get in trouble and loose their bonuses, which is what their entire aim is.
    The good thingsMeet some good people on your crew who work together to achieve your desired results daily.
    The challengesManagement extremely ordinary,so was HR.
    11 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Reliability Engineer
    May 2022
    current employee
    Overall it's good organization to work with.
    The good thingsWorkplace location is better for long-term stay as the city is awesome.
    The challengesAs the working environment is diverse, it brings new things to the table every day.
    2 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Site Supervisor
    Apr 2022
    former employee
    Toxic and slimy culture. Operators exposed to unacceptable risk. Speak up and get hung out to dry.
    The good thingsHardworking and reliable operators Very friendly and helpful remote admin support team
    The challengesMultiple serious OH&S concerns putting operators at risk - swept under the carpet for many years despite being repeatedly raised by operators and supervisors Disjointed and fractious management structure within business unit Toxic and slimy culture among a core group of long serving employees within business unit 12-18 month wait for new IT equipment or upgrades Training department massively under-resourced and inadequate
    19 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Engineer
    Dec 2021
    Started great, but due to a shift in management it got to a point where I struggled to get out of bed in the morning. Current management is too busy looking up and self promoting to care about those who are around them, or those in their team who they are supposed to be leading.
    The good thingsThe people doing the grunt work are fantastic, and I miss them all. The manufacturing plant is very interesting and great to learn about and work on.
    The challengesThe management and the toxic culture they nurture in the company can be soul destroying. Management love to play the blame game and will throw good workers under a bus rather than front up and admit mistakes or support their team. Good luck getting any career development opportunities here, “there’s no budget for that”.
    16 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Administration Role
    Aug 2021
    Very disappointing.
    The good thingsAble to work from home during COVID.
    The challengesManagement out of touch with everything. Lack of communication and leadership. Very dysfunctional place to work. Lack of empathy.
    1.0
    Administration
    Aug 2021
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Loved my job and the people I worked with. Will miss them all. Management have a lot to answer for. Wrong people running a great business. Just look at the asx
    The good thingsCould not have found better People on the ground to work with. Management was a didn’t kettle of fish. Did not help or offer opportunities
    The challengesManagement. You were beneath them so not matter what you did in your performance, you were not noticed
    14 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Administration Role
    Aug 2021
    3 to 4 years in the role, former employee
    Poor management, no development opportunities, toxic environment.
    The good thingsThere are some really great people working for this organisation. The salary was pretty decent too.
    The challengesThere are some really awful people working here too. There is a toxic culture that became more and more apparent during the last couple of months working there. Total lack of support and management that won't hesitate to either take credit for all of your hard work or throw you under the bus if everything goes wrong.
    15 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Manager
    May 2021
    Right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Very dysfunctional organisation. No leadership.
    The good thingsLogical down to earth people in the field
    The challengesBelow standard leadership, management and zero strategy. Look at the ASX market results that describe current and future state. No focus on people, careers and or sheltering low performers due to 'mates' and longevity with the organisation. Do not go near Orica!
    18 people found this helpful
    4.0
    Engineer
    Nov 2020
    1 to 2 years in the role, former employee
    Challenging but rewarding.
    The good thingsA company that values and respects technical skill and knowledge with a fantastic graduate recruitment and development program
    The challengesThe company works hard retain a core group of staff through the up and downs of the mining industry but at the expense of everyone else.
    2 people found this helpful
    3.0
    Emulsion operator
    Jul 2020
    11 to 12 years in the role, former employee
    Toxic environment not worth the great pay
    The good thingsThe role and the pay.
    The challengesArrogant Management and a toxic work environment.
    10 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Supervisor
    Jul 2020
    9 to 10 years in the role, former employee
    Disappointing
    The good thingsTraining provided in certain areas
    The challengesPoor values from business
    8 people found this helpful
    1.0
    Technician
    May 2020
    5 to 6 years in the role, former employee
    Happily separated.
    The good thingsContracting staff are very friendly.
    The challengesManagement have less knowledge than staff and don't like being reminded of that, they are also unwilling to promote contractors to full time roles after years of promise.
    9 people found this helpful
    2.0
    Health and Safety
    Apr 2020
    Little to no support. A real hostile environment to work.
    The good thingsFriday afternoon and the train ride home.
    The challengesPeople put in senior management positions without the appropriate skills or experience.
    6 people found this helpful
    Company Reviews published on our site are the views and opinions of their authors and do not represent the views and opinions of SEEK or its personnel. SEEK does not verify the truth or accuracy of any reviews and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted. SEEK posts reviews for what they are worth and for informational purposes only to assist candidates to find employment.