MINING MEDICAL

Accurate and fast mining medicals

As an employer in Australia’s coal mining sector, you understand the importance of protecting your team’s health and wellbeing.

This includes organising a mining medical for each worker before they commence work and throughout their time on site. At Happy Health, we deliver accurate, functional-based coal mine workers’ health assessments in line with statutory requirements—giving you confidence in both compliance and care.

Our health screening vans and visiting doctors can perform coal mining medicals on-site, saving time and hassle. Alternatively, employees can come to one of our clinics.

mining medical left
mining medical right

QLD Coal Board Medical

We offer Coal Board Medicals to workers currently in NSW who will be placed at a mine in Queensland. This medical is required under the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme, which protects miners’ health and safety with mandatory periodic health assessments.

 

Our QLD Coal Board Medical includes the following checks:

Once all tests have been completed, our occupational health specialist will provide you with a summary report called a Section 4. This details whether the individual is fit, fit with restrictions or unfit to work.

NSW Order 45 Mining Medical

The Order 45 Mining Medical forms part of the NSW Coal Mining Health and Safety Scheme. These mandatory health assessments are designed to safeguard the wellbeing of coal mine workers and include the following tests:

  • Respirator fit test
  • Respiratory questionnaire
  • Chest x-ray
  • Spirometry test
  • Cardiovascular system examination
  • Musculoskeletal system examination
  • Hearing test
  • Vision test
  • Auditory canal examination
  • Abdomen examination
  • Skin examination
  • Urinalysis
  • Medical history questionnaire

Chest X-Ray reported to ILO standards

A chest X-ray helps to ensure your miners receive an early diagnosis for any present lung disease, including Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis. We provide chest X-ray services to International Labour Organisation (ILO) Standards alongside accredited imaging providers. This highly complex and validated approach to radiology reporting records disease progression with the utmost accuracy.

GENERAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the most common questions we get asked about our QLD and NSW medical tests for mining jobs.

Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as ‘black lung’, is a chronic respiratory disease caused by prolonged exposure to coal dust. Long-term inhalation of dust particles can inflame our alveoli, eventually causing permanent lung damage. Alveoli are small sacs in our lungs that facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream. The severity of CWP varies from simple to advanced, when it becomes progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). A debilitating, often life-threatening condition, PMF must be detected and treated as early as possible.

We understand that prompt mining medicals facilitate worker placement. That’s why we offer fast-tracked 24-hour reports, enabling you to meet short-notice placement deadlines without the stress.

Yes. We can perform any employee health assessment your business requires. In fact, Section 4 and Section D are the only information an employer can legally access from a mining medical without employee consent. We therefore recommend also booking a pre-employment medical.

A NSW Order 45 Mining Medical is valid for 3 years and must be performed every 3 years.

A QLD Coal Board Medical is valid for 5 years and must be performed every 5 years.

A mining medical is a structured medical assessment used to evaluate whether workers are fit for coal mining environments. It focuses on identifying health risks linked to exposure to coal dust and other hazards.

 

These assessments support health and safety outcomes and help employers meet their obligations under relevant workplace requirements.

A coal mine worker’s health assessment is a formal workers health assessment designed to monitor coal mine workers health over time. It includes a range of clinical tests and a detailed medical examination.

This type of health assessment helps detect early signs of respiratory diseases, including coal workers’ pneumoconiosis and other dust lung diseases.

In many cases, coal workers are required to undergo compulsory health assessments before starting work and at set intervals during their employment. These compulsory health assessments are part of broader workplace requirements in Queensland coal and across Australia.

They ensure mine workers are medically fit and able to perform their role safely.

Workers may need to undergo periodic health assessments depending on their role and exposure. These periodic health assessments help track changes in workers’ health and support early identification of potential issues.

Regular monitoring is important for managing long-term risks associated with long term inhalation of airborne hazards.

The health assessment process typically includes:

  • A full medical examination by a qualified medical professional
  • Respiratory testing to assess lung function
  • A chest X-ray or a current chest X-ray to screen for lung conditions
  • Review of medical information and work history

These steps help ensure a thorough and consistent complete assessment.

 

A chest X-ray plays a key role in detecting early signs of black lung, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and other respiratory diseases. It supports early diagnosis before symptoms become severe.

In many cases, workers will attend a chest X-ray appointment with an approved imaging provider.

A workers’ health assessment is designed to identify conditions linked to coal dust exposure, including:

  • Coal workers pneumoconiosis
  • Black lung
  • Dust lung diseases
  • Progressive massive fibrosis
  • Other respiratory diseases

These conditions can develop over time, especially with long-term inhalation of airborne particles.

Once the complete assessment is finalised, a health assessment report is prepared by the medical officer or examining medical officer. This report outlines whether the worker is fit, fit with work restrictions, or unfit.

Only relevant details are shared with the employer, while other medical information contained remains confidential.

Yes. A pre-employment medical can often be completed alongside a new assessment. This is useful when workers are starting a new role or if they are changing employer.

It helps ensure the new employer has the required information before work begins.

Workers are required to provide written consent before certain medical information is shared. The assessment process is structured to protect privacy while still meeting workplace requirements.

Clear separation of information helps support both compliance and confidentiality.

If any concerns are identified, the worker may be referred for subsequent follow up or additional checks. In some cases, this may include further review of respiratory diseases or other findings.

This ensures any risks are properly assessed and managed.

In some situations, exit assessments may be completed when workers leave a role in coal mining. These assessments help document long-term exposure and support ongoing health monitoring.

They also contribute to consistent record keeping for both workers and employers.

Regular workers health assessment supports safer workplaces by identifying issues early and reducing the risk of serious illness. This is critical in environments where exposure to carbon dioxide, dust, and other hazards is common.

By monitoring coal mine workers health, employers can better protect their workforce and maintain strong health and safety outcomes.

At Happy Health, we go beyond standard assessments by supporting clients with practical educational resources, safety guidelines and assessments that improve long-term workforce health. As a trusted medical provider operating across NSW and aligned with requirements set by the Queensland government and Health Queensland, we deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes for mining clients. Our team works alongside an appointed medical adviser where required, ensuring every assessment is completed accurately and supports clear planning for any future medical reviews.