PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government has introduced a suite of health and safety reforms to protect coal miners from black lung disease.

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthonly Lynham said on Friday that coal health and safety laws will see dust levels made public, compulsory health checks for underground and above-ground miners, and compulsory reporting of black lung cases to government from January 1.

“These regulatory changes are a critical element of our commitment to detect and prevent all forms of coal mine dust lung disease - including coal workers’ pneumoconiosis,” Lynham said. 

“This is a disease that does not belong in the 21st century and I am determined to continue to work with industry, unions and doctors to protect our coal miners.”

Under the new regulations all new coal mine workers will undergo a health assessment, including respiratory function and chest x-ray examinations, on entry into the industry – enabling doctors to detect changes that may occur over time, while above-ground coal mine workers will undergo a chest x-ray and respiratory function test at least once every 10 years.

If they have worked underground, it will be at least every five years.

Furthermore, companies will be required to provide dust monitoring data to the Mines Inspectorate every three months, and an advisory committee of industry, union and government representatives will review the data and it will be published online.

In addition, black lung will become a notifiable disease, meaning mining companies must report known cases to the Queensland Mines Inspectorate.

Coal mine workers permanently retiring from the industry can now also ask their employer for a retirement examination, including respiratory function and chest x-ray examination.

The tougher regulations are part of the three-pronged approach announced in July to prevent new cases of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, identify existing cases early, and provide a safety net for workers with the disease.

“Following the introduction of the dual reading screening system in July 2016, more than 2 000 coal mine worker chest x-rays have been read first by an Australian radiologist, and then sent to be read by US-based National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health approved readers,” Lynham said.

“This system ensures every worker’s chest x-ray is examined independently by at least two medical experts. I encourage any mine worker – past or present – who has concerns about their respiratory health to see their doctor,” Lynham said.

To date, some 18 Queensland miners have been diagnosed with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, which is caused by long-term exposure to respirable coal dust.