Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme

The Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme (formerly the Coal Board Medical) protects the health of Queensland coal mine workers by ensuring they undergo compulsory health assessments. This includes an assessment when they enter the industry and then at least every 5 years while employed in the industry.

Retiring and former workers can access the scheme on a voluntary basis.

Employers of Queensland coal mine workers must ensure that health assessments are carried out on each person they employ or intend to employ.

This guide explains the requirements of the scheme, including recent changes made as part of the Queensland Government's response to mine dust lung disease.

Note: There are additional medical assessment guidelines (PDF, 416KB) for conducting health assessments of coal mine workers who are also mine rescue personnel.

Approval must be obtained from Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) to carry out health assessments, medical examinations and other functions under the scheme. These functions are:

  • carrying out, supervising or reporting on health assessments
  • providing spirometry or spirometry training
  • taking or examining chest X-rays.