Review of the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme

This review, commissioned by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM), was undertaken in collaboration with a research team headed by Professor Bob Cohen from the University of Illinois Chicago.

The main aim of the review was to determine if the respiratory component of the health assessment scheme performed under the Queensland Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme was adequately designed and implemented to effectively detect the early stages of coal mine dust lung disease (CMDLD) and, where deficiencies were found, to recommend necessary changes. This was done in response to the newly emerging cases of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (Black Lung) in these workers.

The review made 18 recommendations to improve the quality of this scheme, and the DRNM has been working to adopt the recommendations and have substantially changed the scheme, resulting in a major effect on the risk of lung disease in these workers. DNRM has been implementing the recommendations, which has resulted in a substantial improvement in the health scheme and reduced risk of disease for Queensland coal mine workers.

The outcomes of the review were published in the final report on 13 July 2016, available from the Queensland Government website.