Occupational Health publications
Occupational Health releases publications that inform the resources industry about emerging and known occupational health harms. This includes research, educational materials, audit learnings and health surveillance reports.
Research
As part of RSHQ’s strategic plan, we sponsor, undertake and support research activities. This enables RSHQ and the Queensland resources industry to increase its understanding of emerging and known occupational health harms and take a risk-based approach supported by evidence to manage risks and promote improved health outcomes.
Under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme, RSHQ may make coal mine worker health assessment records available to appropriately qualified persons for research that is approved by a relevant ethics committee. To discuss potential access to medical records for approved research, email HSU@rshq.qld.gov.au.
RSHQ has engaged or supported a number of occupational health research activities.
-
Monash University has completed a study to understand the cancer incidence and mortality among coal mine workers in Queensland.
The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council as a partnership project between Monash University and RSHQ. RSHQ provided key identifying information and smoking data for coal mine workers employed after 1982.
The Queensland coal mine workers’ cancer and mortality study full report and summary report provide further information on the study methodology and key findings.
-
The re-identification of mine dust lung disease in the Queensland mining industry demonstrated that in addition to serious safety risks, preventing disease and other health harms must also be a focus.
To enhance understanding of existing and emerging occupational health harms, RSHQ commissioned Ernst and Young and the University of Queensland to conduct a Baseline review of occupational health risks relevant to the resources sector.
-
As part of RSHQ’s ongoing commitment to better understanding mine dust lung disease, Cancer Council Queensland were engaged to undertake a prevalence study. The study focused specifically on coal mine dust lung disease (CMDLD).
The Prevalence of coal mine dust lung disease in Queensland full report provides further information on the methodology and estimates for prevalence.
-
Research was co-funded with the Australian Coal Association Research Program that investigated cases of disease in Queensland coal miners. The report provides several insights into disease types, severity and work history.
Health surveillance reports
Understanding the incidence and types of occupational health harms across the resources industry is important for monitoring the effectiveness of exposure controls to manage risks to workers. RSHQ’s health surveillance reports share updates and emerging trends in reported mine dust lung disease cases and psychosocial hazards. It provides greater analysis of disease cases where multiple conditions have been diagnosed, and their influence on disease distribution and trends.
Audit reports
-
RSHQ engaged a team of specialists from the University of Illinois Chicago to review the performance of chest X-ray screening under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme. Further information on the learnings of the review is provided in the Findings from an audit of chest radiograph ILO classifications performed under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme report.
-
An expert team of radiologists from the United States and Australia reviewed a sample of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans of Queensland coal mine workers. The report for the Review of CT scan classifications performed under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme outlines the key findings.
Education seminars and presentations
RSHQ makes educational seminars and presentations available on matters relating to the health of miners to inform the resources industry and medical providers on obligations, disease prevention and detection, and quality of medical assessments.
-
High quality chest X-ray imaging and reporting is crucial for detecting issues indicative of mine dust lung diseases. An ongoing review of chest X-rays performed under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme identified several areas of improvement that are consistent across many imaging practices.
RSHQ has published A practical guide to improving chest X-ray image quality to provide technical considerations providers may consider when looking to improve image quality.
To further improve the acquisition and reporting of chest X-rays, in March 2024 RSHQ hosted a B-Reader Summit where radiologists and radiographers gathered to hear from leading Australian and international experts on the latest evidence and best-practice to improve chest X-ray image quality.
Recordings of each session delivered during the summit are available below to enable clinics to consider what image quality improvement strategies are applicable for their practice.
-
RSHQ conducts ongoing regulatory activity to ensure spirometry under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme is performed to a high standard. These important tests aid in the early detection of occupational respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and silicosis.
RSHQ found some areas where spirometry could be improved and held a three-part webinar series on the mandatory requirements of the 2022 TSANZ Standards for the delivery of spirometry for resource workers.
These resources are provided to assist RSHQ approved spirometry practices deliver high quality spirometry in accordance with their obligations under the Scheme.
Accessing the webinar recordings
Spirometry webinar 1 – Writing a spirometry procedure manual
Spirometry webinar 2 – Performing spirometry quality control
Spirometry webinar 3 – Requirements of a spirometry report
Accessing the case study recordings
Spirometry interpretation – Case study 1
-
Since the introduction of the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme, there has been significant improvement in spirometry across the Queensland coal sector. Find out in this presentation how RSHQ reforms paved the way to quality spirometry and learn about future initiatives including ResHealth – an electronic system capturing health assessment data in real time.
-
Improvements has been made to respiratory health examinations for coal, mineral mine and quarry workers. This presentation provides an overview of the improvements that include higher quality chest X-ray standards, better training for health care professionals and a recognised standard for reporting results. RSHQ has a strict process in ensuring each component of the medical screening process is working effectively.
Also consider…
- Read information about mining medicals for Queensland mine and quarry workers.
- Read about our regular mine dust lung disease case updates.
Visit Miners’ Health Matters to find out more about mine dust lung disease and support for affected workers. You can also order copies of our free pocket guides for workers.
Further information
For further information or questions about Occupational Health publications, please call Miners’ Health on (07) 3199 7967 or email minershealth@rshq.qld.gov.au.
Last updated: 27 Jun 2024
