Standards and resources for health assessments

In response to the identification of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, a number of standards have been introduced to improve the quality and consistency of health screening for coal mine workers. We have also developed some resources to help employers complete the health assessment form.

Standards

• Diagnostic pathway: Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme (CMWHS) clinical pathways guideline (PDF, 702KB)
• X-ray standards: Standards for acquiring digital chest radiography images for medical surveillance of Queensland coal mine workers (PDF, 1.8MB)

TSANZ standards for spirometry

The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ), in partnership with Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ), has released the 2022 Standards for the delivery of spirometry for resource sector workers (PDF, 1.0MB) and the Standards for spirometry training courses companion document (PDF, 374KB) (2022 Standards).

The 2022 Standards

The original standards were first published in 2017, in response to the re-identification of mine dust lung disease. Additions and changes have been incorporated into the 2022 Standards to:

• align with updates to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) Standards 2019 (PDF, 927KB) and ERS and ATS guidelines for interpretation (PDF, 1.9MB)
• address the outcomes of the clinical spirometry audit undertaken by TSANZ and the accreditation program being undertaken by Quality Innovation Performance Limited (QIP)
• align with the CMWHS clinical pathways guideline (PDF, 702KB) (the Guideline) by removing the separate 'Algorithm for Interpretation of Spirometry in Coal Workers' in the previous version of the standards
• address feedback received by RSHQ during consultation on the draft revised standards.

The 2022 Standards have also been updated to note their application to resource sector workers generally, aligning with legislative changes relating to respiratory health surveillance in the mineral mining and quarrying industry.

Transition to the 2022 Standards

The 2022 Standards were released by the TSANZ on 31 March 2022.

To allow providers adequate time for implementation, all spirometry for Queensland mine and quarry workers and spirometry training must be conducted in accordance with these 2022 Standards from 1 March 2023. However, practices and training courses can adopt the 2022 Standards before this date if they wish.

All accreditations with QIP due after 1 March 2023 will be conducted against the 2022 Standards. However, spirometry practices and training providers may choose to complete accreditation against the 2022 Standards from 1 September 2022.

Current 2017 TSANZ standards

• TSANZ Standards for the delivery of spirometry for coal mine workers (PDF, 567KB)
• TSANZ Standards for spirometry training courses (PDF, 280KB).

New 2022 documents

• 2022 Standards for the delivery of spirometry for resource sector workers (PDF, 1.0MB)
• 2022 Standards for spirometry training courses companion document (PDF, 374KB).

Similar exposure groups (SEGs)

Similar exposure groups (SEGs) are used to identify groups of workers who have the same general exposure to risks.

The SEG information sheet (PDF, 111KB) has guidance on establishing site-specific SEGs, as well as SEG listings you can use for reporting personal respirable dust monitoring data.

Position list for coal mine workers

Coal mine workers' position titles need to be provided by employers when completing Section 1 of the approved health assessment form.

The Standardised coal mine worker position list (PDF, 380KB) has a list of position titles and categories, as well as guidance on how to classify a position.

More information

Read about the Queensland Government's response to mine dust lung disease.