The Industry Health Standards aim to provide greater consistency, clarity and transparency regarding medical determinations and improve medical management of identified issues across the NSW coal mining industry.
Cardiovascular Health Standard
Cardiovascular conditions may lead to sudden incapacity and affect a coal mine worker’s ability to work safely, potentially leading to a serious incident affecting themselves or others in the workplace.
Coal mine workers with underlying conditions may be asymptomatic prior to the onset of a cardiovascular event. It is therefore essential that their overall cardiac risk is assessed and investigated, and any known cardiovascular conditions are appropriately monitored and managed to ensure they can safely undertake their position within the coal mine.
Respiratory Health Standard
Coal mining produces coal dust and dust from other minerals, including silica. Repeated exposure to coal mine dust can put coal mine workers at risk of developing coal mine dust lung diseases (CMDLD).
The Respiratory Health Standard applies to all approved medical practitioners who complete health assessments on NSW coal mine workers.
