The essential guide to mining pre-employment medicals

Working in the mines is dirty and physically demanding. It can be dangerous, too, even with health and safety measures in place.

According to Work Safe Australia, our mining industry is sixth highest in the country for work-related fatalities over a 10-year average and ninth for serious workplace illness and injury claims.

Because of the risks of mining, workers need to have a pre-employment medical before being offered a job on site. In fact, it’s a legal requirement primarily governed by occupational health and safety laws.

But what is a pre-employment mining medical? What are the laws around them? What tests and examinations do they involve? And how do you arrange and prepare for them? Let’s dig in.

What is a pre-employment medical?

A pre-employment mining medical is a health assessment done during the recruitment process. It helps employers assess an individual’s ability to do the job safely and effectively and minimise the risk of workplace injuries.

The results are used to guide employment decisions and act as a baseline of health for both the employer and the employee to monitor health going forward.

These medicals are beneficial to both the worker’s health and wellbeing and a business’s bottom line and reputation. They’re an investment that prevents and reduces risks and potential claims.

Caution! Risky workplace ahead

So, what are the risks on mine sites that make pre-employment medicals a must? Here are some of them:

• Physical hazards – Injury from operating or being near heavy equipment like excavators and trucks, falls from platforms or into open pits, or slips and trips from uneven ground, rocks and wet surfaces.
• Environmental hazards – Silica dust from rock and soil can lead to respiratory issues like silicosis, and high noise levels can cause hearing loss.
• Chemical hazards – Exposure to toxic substances like solvents and explosives and harmful gases from machinery or during blasting.
• Geological hazards – Landslides or subsidence due to mine instability and loose rocks falling in underground mines or on slopes.
• Psychological hazards – Long hours and high-pressure environments can cause mental health issues, and extended shifts can cause fatigue and accidents.

What are the regulations?

Key legislation for pre-employment mining medicals includes state-specific mining regulations and industry standards, and regulatory body guidelines, including Safe Work Australia.

Laws guiding pre-employment mining medicals (by state)

New South Wales (NSW)

• NSW Order 43
• Requires pre-employment and periodic medicals (every 3 years) for coal miners. Includes lung function tests, hearing assessments, vision tests and general health checks.
• Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulation 2014

Covers broader health and safety for all mining operations, including health assessments for specific risks.

Learn about our Coal Mining Medicals here at Happy Health.

Queensland (QLD)

• QLD Coal Board Medical
• Full medicals are required for coal mine workers before employment and every 5 years. Includes spirometry, audiometric tests and general health checks.
• Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999
  Covers general health and safety for all mining operations, including health assessments.

Western Australia (WA)

• Mine Safety and Inspection Act 1994
  Health assessments for specific mining operations. Generally includes medical history reviews, physical examinations and special tests depending on the type of mining.

South Australia (SA)

• Mines and Works Inspection Regulations 2013
  Covers health and safety for mining operations, including mandatory health assessments for high-risk workers.

Northern Territory (NT)

• Mining Management Act 2001
  Requires health assessments for mine workers to be fit for duty.

Tasmania

• Work Health and Safety Act 2012
  Includes health assessments but specific mining regulations may vary depending on the operation.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Not a major mining state, but health and safety standards are the same as national regulations so assessments are required for any mining activity.

Laws guiding mining medicals (by industry)

Coal mining

• NSW Order 43 – Pre-employment and periodic medicals for coal miners, lung function, hearing and general health.
• QLD Coal Board Medical – Similar to NSW Order 43, it requires full medical evaluations, including lung and hearing tests.

Metalliferous mining (e.g., gold, copper)

• Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999 (QLD) – General health and safety for all mining operations.
• National Mine Safety Framework – Provides guidance on health assessments for metalliferous mining, including physical and mental fitness.

Energy mining (e.g., uranium, oil and gas)

• Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (Cth) – Specific health assessments related to exposure to radiation in uranium mining.
• Work Health and Safety Regulations – General health assessments and workplace safety for the oil and gas sector.

Common regulatory requirements

While each state and industry has its own requirements, there are some common across all of them, including:

• Medical history review – Assessing past health issues and pre-existing conditions.
• Physical examination – General health checks to ensure work fitness.
• Specialised tests – Lung function, hearing, vision and fitness tests specific to the mining industry.
• Ongoing monitoring – Regular health checks to monitor any changes in health status especially for those exposed to hazardous conditions.

Ongoing monitoring is the key to compliance and also plays a role in proactive management of health risks, early detection and individualised care for those exposed to hazardous conditions.

Mining pre-employment medical checklist

Here are some of the tests that may be included in a full pre-employment mining medical, including what they are and why they’re done.

This will vary depending on the provider’s specialisms (we specialise in coal!), the state, the industry, the company and the role.

• Medical history questionnaire – Gathers comprehensive information about a candidate’s health background.
• Respiratory questionnaire – Includes a series of questions aimed at gathering information about the candidate’s respiratory history and current health status that might affect working in environments with airborne hazards, such as dust and fumes.
• Chest x-ray – Designed to detect abnormalities in the lungs, such as scarring and infections and identify signs of conditions like pneumoconiosis. It ensures someone is healthy enough to work in an environment that may expose them to respiratory risks.
• Spirometry test – This test involves blowing into a special device to measure how a person can inhale and exhale and how quickly they can do it. It measures lung capacity and detects respiratory conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. It’s important as miners are exposed to hazards such as duct and fumes.
• Cardiovascular system examination – Evaluates the health of a candidate’s heart and blood vessels to detect risk factors such as heart disease and high blood pressure. It involves checking vital signs, heart sounds and blood flow. It’s crucial given the physically demanding nature of the work.
• Musculoskeletal system examination – Evaluates the health and function of a candidate’s muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues by checking motion, strength and posture to assess physical fitness and identify existing conditions such as back pain. It ensures a person can meet the physical demands of the work.
• Hearing test (audiometry) – A procedure that involves otoscopy (preliminary examination of the ear) and audiometry testing to evaluate an individual’s hearing health. It can identify any pre-existing impairments that may worsen in loud on-site environments.
• Vision test – Involves a range of eye tests (acuity, colour vision, depth perception, eye health exam). It can determine how well a candidate can see at various distances, critical for tasks that involve operating machinery, reading gauges etc. and re-existing vision problems, such as near-sightedness, that affect job performance.
• Auditory canal examination – Uses an otoscope and a visual inspection to evaluate ear health (crucial in a noisy mine environment), identify blockages that could hinder communication on site and check for signs or injury or infection.
• Abdomen examination – Medical history review and physical exam to assess abdominal health, such as spleen and liver, detect pre-existing conditions like hernias or gastrointestinal disorders, and evaluate pain and discomfort, all of which could affect the ability to do the job and worsen in a mining role.
• Skin check – Examining the skin for any signs of abnormalities, lesions or conditions that could affect a worker’s health. This is important given the nature of mining work, where employees may be exposed to harsh environmental conditions, chemicals, and UV radiation.
• Respirator fit test – Measures the effectiveness of a seal between a respirator and the wearer’s face to ensure it will protect them sufficiently.

Organising pre-employment medicals

Employers must pay for and arrange pre-employment mining medicals. The medicals must be carried out by approved medical practitioners, occupational health professionals or specialist providers.

The assessments can take place in external clinics, on-site medical facilities or mobile health units (like our Happy Health vans!) that travel to the site to do the assessments. Going to site is convenient and efficient and can increase worker compliance.

Preparing for a pre-employment medical

To prepare for a pre-employment mining medical, we recommend that workers do the following to help the process and perform well:

• Be honest – Tell the truth about their medical history and any medications they’re taking.
• Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water, especially if they’re having drug and alcohol testing (an add-on inclusion that can be requested in a pre-mining medical).
• Rest up – Make sure they get a good night’s sleep before their appointment to help them perform their best during physical assessments.

They also need to bring the required paperwork, including identification, medical history information, and any previous medical records that could be relevant.

Getting the results

Once all tests are done, your health specialists will give you a summary report. This details whether the individual is fit, fit with restrictions or unfit to work.

If the person doesn’t meet the requirements, they may or may not be offered the job. If any issues are found, further evaluation or follow-up may be necessary.

Medicals that equal happier sites and lives

Understanding the ins and outs of mining pre-employment medicals is essential for both employers and employees.

For employers, these assessments aren’t just a legal requirement; they’re a proactive way to protect worker health and create a safer workplace. They reduce risk and boost productivity in a tough industry.

For workers, it protects them from unnecessary risk, promotes a culture of safety and wellbeing, and helps them live healthier, happier lives.

Get in touch to book pre-employment mining medicals for your mining candidates today!