Appointed medical advisers

Employers are required to appoint one or more medical practitioners as their appointed medical adviser (AMA).

An AMA who has been appointed by one employer does not have AMA status for other employers. A written contract between each employer and the AMA is required.

Role of the AMA

The AMA's role is to carry out, supervise and report on health assessments and retirement examinations for the employer's coal mine workers.

The AMA will apply the Mine dust lung disease clinical pathways guideline (PDF, 789KB) in referring on, or following up, coal mine workers whose screening examinations show irregularities.

Only the employer's appointed AMA can complete and sign the Health Assessment report of the relevant health assessment form for the employer's coal mine workers. However, the examination section of the forms can be completed by an examining medical officer approved by Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) working under the supervision of the AMA.

Finding a doctor to appoint as an AMA

From 1 March 2019, employers must only appoint supervising doctors from the RSHQ register of doctors and medical providers as their AMA.

These doctors have been assessed as having met qualification and experience standards for assessing coal mine workers. Doctors on the register are required to participate in an annual training program.

Contracts appointing AMAs

Employers must appoint the AMA in writing.

The written contract must include requirements for the AMA to:

• have a discussion with both the employer and coal mine worker (or the worker's representative) and advise about appropriate duties for the worker in the health assessment report of the forms (the health assessment report)
• discuss the worker's health assessment with another doctor nominated by the worker, if requested by the coal mine worker
• give a copy of the health assessment report to the employer
• give a copy and explanation of the health assessment report to the worker.

The contract must also include:

• term of the AMA's appointment
• commercial details, such as a schedule of fees.

Notification requirements

AMAs must notify us of any changes to their contact details. Email or post your notice to the Health Surveillance Unit:

Health Surveillance Unit
Resources Safety & Health Queensland
GPO Box 1321
BRISBANE CITY QLD  4001
HSU@rshq.qld.gov.au

Employers can complete their AMA appointment notification requirements through ResHealth. When completing your AMA appointment in ResHealth you will require the following details of the appointment:

• AMA name
• Start date
• End date