Underground mine rescue medical

Underground mines rescue operations are physically and psychologically demanding and may involve working conditions that would not normally be considered tolerable.

Toxic atmospheres and poor ventilation encountered in rescue situations require personnel to wear long-duration breathing apparatus (LDBA) for many operations. This, along with heavy physical work such as shifting fallen material and retrieving casualties, significantly increases the risk for heat stress, particularly as heat and humidity underground may already be high.

These conditions require a higher level of personal health and fitness than for normal mining operations. For this reason, the health assessments performed under the Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme (the scheme) for underground mines rescue workers need to be more stringent compared to those for normal mining work.

When and how often workers must be assessed

Health assessments for underground mines rescue workers must be carried out:

• every 2 years for persons up to age 40
• every year for persons aged 40 and over.

Transitioning to the revised guideline

Resources Safety & Health Queensland (RSHQ) had developed the revised Underground mines rescue medical guideline (PDF, 1.4MB) (revised guideline) in consultation with the Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS) and medical experts, including the Resources Medical Advisory Committee. The revised guideline replaces the Guideline for the medical assessment of mines rescue personnel (PDF, 286KB) which was released in 2019.

To allow doctors time to transition, the revised guideline will apply from 1 January 2027 to all health assessments requiring a worker to be assessed for medical suitability to perform underground mines rescue testing, training and tasks. Where possible, doctors are encouraged to start applying the revised guideline ahead of this date.

How the health assessment works

The scheme requires all Queensland coal mine workers to undertake a health assessment. Where an employer identifies that a coal mine worker may be required to undertake underground mines rescue work, the appointed medical adviser (AMA) will determine the medical suitability to perform underground mines rescue testing, training and tasks.

Current guideline

Under the Guideline for the medical assessment of mines rescue personnel (PDF, 286KB), the health assessment is in 2 parts:

• Part A is the medical examination conducted on the approved form for the scheme but applying more stringent criteria.
• Part B is the assessment of physical fitness through the VO₂ max step test.

The health assessment should only be conducted and signed off by doctors who are experienced AMAs under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation 2017.

The Guideline for the medical assessment of mines rescue personnel (PDF, 286KB) provides information on medical contraindications and the use of the VO₂ max step test.

Revised guideline

Under the Underground mines rescue medical guideline (PDF, 1.4MB), the AMA must consider the revised guideline to determine the medical suitability of a coal mine worker to proceed to underground mines rescue testing and training (or tasks if QMRS-certified). The AMA must document the medical suitability in the health assessment approval form.

Once a coal mine worker has been deemed medically suitable to perform underground mines rescue testing, training and tasks, they may progress to evaluation by QMRS. A copy of the health assessment report must be provided to QMRS prior to the coal mine worker commencing QMRS testing and training.

Evaluation by QMRS

The QMRS evaluation determines non-medical suitability to undertake emergency response and rescue tasks. This aspect is determined outside the scheme through physiological fitness and workload testing and training certified by QMRS. Testing and training is only undertaken by QMRS once the health assessment has been completed under the scheme, and the AMA has determined the worker is medically suitable to progress to QMRS testing and training.

Find out more about QMRS physiological fitness and workload testing and training for underground mine rescue personnel.

Surface emergency response personnel

The revised guideline has been developed specifically to determine the medical suitability of coal mine workers undertaking underground emergency response and mines rescue tasks. However, it could apply for workers performing surface emergency response tasks depending on how a site's rescue capability is arranged (e.g. using QMRS-certified personnel for surface emergency response tasks).

It is the responsibility of the site operator to ensure they have provided sufficient information regarding surface mines rescue tasks to the AMA to enable them to make an informed decision about applying the revised guideline. An AMA can choose to use the revised guideline to inform their assessment of a worker to determine if they are medically suitable to perform surface emergency response tasks if they believe it is relevant and specific to the circumstances.

Contact us

For more information, contact the Health Surveillance Unit on (07) 3818 5420 or email HSU@rshq.qld.gov.au.