The Queensland Government made important changes to the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme (the Scheme) that came into effect in March 2019. These changes affect medical providers who provide examinations or health assessments for Queensland’s coal mine workers. Under the Scheme, only providers who have been approved by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME) may perform particular functions.

These functions are:

• carrying out, supervising or reporting on health assessments
• providing spirometry testing, and
• taking chest X-rays or reporting chest X-rays to the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses.

Only approved spirometry training providers can provide training for those persons who perform spirometry testing for the Scheme. It is an offence to carry out these functions if you are not approved by DNRME.

Medical providers should check with presenting workers to see if they are a current or former coal mine worker. If so, providers should determine whether they can undertake the examination or assessment and what requirements apply. Detailed information about the Scheme, including about how to become or find an approved provider, is available on the DNRME website.

If you have any questions in relation to this, please contact the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme team on (07) 3199 7967 or email minehealthregister@dnrme.qld.gov.au.