Dr Snezana Bajic, Deputy Chief Inspector Explosives and
Haydn Isaac, Principal Inspector of Explosives, North Region, Resources Safety and Health Queensland
Dr Snezana Bajic, Deputy Chief Inspector Explosives, Resources Safety and Health Queensland,
Herman Ng, Senior Safety Advisor (Hazardous Chemicals), Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and
Dr Damien Reid, Manager, Scientific Shift Crews, Research and Scientific Branch, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
Karl Barnsdale, Production Manager, Fitzroy Coal Management
Dean Barr
A/Director, Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme
Kerri Melkersson
Director, Health Surveillance Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy
Since the re-identification of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis in Queensland in 2015, and reforms resultant from the Monash and UIC independent expert review of 2016, the department has implemented improved screening methods for the detection of respiratory disease in coal mine workers.
As at March 2019, more than 30,000 chest x-rays have been dual read to International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards, resulting in 99% returning a negative result for disease. Of the 1.0% which screened positive, 15 have resulted in a diagnosis of disease.</p .
The department receives reports of cases of mine dust lung disease (MDLD) through a number of pathways; doctors, mine operators and the workers’ compensation scheme all provide confirmation of diagnoses within the mining and quarrying sectors. As at March 2019, 99 cases of MDLD have been reported across all sectors since 1984 (89 since 2015).
Separate to the reforms implemented in the mining regulatory framework, the Queensland Parliament is considering a Bill to establish a Notifiable Dust Lung Diseases Register to be administered by Queensland Health. This will provide a further mechanism to ensure the incidence of disease is understood.
This paper provides an overview of the current screening pathways to detect MDLD in Queensland mine workers.
Mark Bartlett – General Manager, Health Safety & Security, Theiss Global Mining
Andrew Batterson
Resources Safety and Health Queensland
Emma Baumann & Oliver Lee
Waterline
Roseanne Baxter – Occupational Therapist, Encompass Therapy
Holly Whitelaw – Data Collection Officer, Glencore Coal Assets Australia
ABSTRACT
Dozer operation at surface mining operations has traditionally been considered one of the higher risk tasks undertaken in the surface coal mining industry due to exposure to significant levels of whole-body vibration. As per Australian Standard AS2760.1, SafeWork Australia promotes the practice of regular monitoring of whole-body vibration levels and encourages employers to minimise workers’ exposure levels to below levels associated with increased risk of health affects. Although not legally binding, these limits are considered benchmarks in industry monitoring reports.
Recent published Australian research has shown a large spread of exposure levels, some of which exceeded recognised limits for likely health effects. A research project has been undertaken to gather whole-body vibration data matched to video and operator survey to investigate which tasks and in what ground conditions are dozer operators at a surface mining operation exposed to the higher levels of whole-body vibration. This provides rationale for prioritisation of allocation of controls targeted at the tasks and/or ground conditions associated with higher wholebody vibration readings.
Discussion regarding the range of data analysis methods currently referred to in research and industry reporting is advocated to improve consistency of reporting and understanding of results.
Dr Basil Beamish, Managing Director, B3 Mining Services Pty Ltd