Health Surveillance of Mine Employees

Health surveillance refers to any health assessment or biological monitoring used to identify changes in the health of workers. This includes, but is not limited to, the statutory initial and periodic health assessments of mine workers (MineHealth Assessment).

The purpose of any health surveillance system is to enable early identification of adverse health effects that may occur from working in the resources industry. The Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA) requires employers to establish a health surveillance system for their employees.

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Biological monitoring refers to medical tests that may be useful in the assessment and management of the risks of exposures to hazardous substances, such as blood lead tests for those who work with or transport lead.

More information is available in the Risk-based health surveillance and biological monitoring guideline (available in the related forms and publications section).

While it is the responsibility of the employer to assess the requirement for biological monitoring, further testing may be directed by the State Mining Engineer.

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Mining employers in Western Australia are required to provide their employees with an initial health assessment within three months of commencement, followed by periodic assessments at intervals not exceeding five years while still employed in the mining industry.

The MineHealth assessment is conducted using the Resources Safety’s health assessment form in accordance with the guide to health surveillance system for mining employees (available in the related forms and publications section).

The assessment consists of:

• Demographic details pertaining to the mine worker
• The person’s detailed work history
• A respiratory questionnaire
• A lung function test (spirometry)
• A hearing test (audiometric test) to WorkCover WA standards
• A chest x-ray (see below).

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Routine chest x-rays are no longer required for all mine workers. If you are a mine worker who has worked in a designated work category for 10 years or more, you will be required to have a chest x-ray. If there are indications from your health assessment that you have respiratory health problems, the medical practitioner or approved person conducting your assessment may arrange a chest x-ray.

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Designated work categories include underground mining, surface mining and certain non-mining work with potentially hazardous exposure to silica dust or asbestos.  A more detailed definition is given in the Guide to health surveillance system for mining employees (available in the related forms and publications section).

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If the examining medical practitioner or approved person determines that you require a chest x-ray as part of your MineHealth Assessment, you will be directed to a radiology service with a request form. The film and its report must be returned to the approved person or medical practitioner for review before forwarding to Resources Safety. Unreported chest x-rays will not be accepted by Resources Safety.

The medical practitioner or approved person is responsible for advising you if further action needs to be taken based on the result of your chest x-ray, as well as advising Resources Safety of further recommended action. Further action may involve referral to your own doctor for follow up of an abnormal x-ray result.

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The MineHealth assessment should not be confused with a pre-employment medical examination. It is a limited health assessment and is not designed to determine an individual’s fitness for work.

The mine health assessment system collects information on the health status of mining employees, with a focus on respiratory health and hearing loss over a period of time in relation to exposure to dusts and noise. This information enables input into strategies for the improvement of the safety and health of all mining employees.

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Normally those employees working in an office, administration building, residential facility or recreational facility are exempted from the MineHealth assessment.

Self-employed persons or employees of a contractor only engaged to work occasionally at a mine site may also be exempted if they work at the mine site for periods of less than one month at any one time, or for a cumulative period of less than three months in a 12-month period.

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It is a legislative requirement to comply with your employer’s request to attend for health surveillance to assess the risks to your health from mining work activities. Your participation enables your employer to comply with the requirement to provide a health surveillance system for the protection of your health and safety.

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Your employer will arrange for you to have your MineHealth assessment with a medical practitioner or with an approved person. You should not arrange to have a MineHealth assessment performed unless you are already employed in the mining industry. That means that you should not arrange for the MineHealth assessment as a means of obtaining a job, as the results will not be accepted by Resources Safety.

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The examining medical practitioner or approved person:

• Conducts the health assessment using the required forms in accordance with the Guide to health surveillance system for mining employees (available in the related forms and publications section)
• Forwards to Resources Safety all required completed documentation, test results (lung function tests, hearing test), and where a chest x-ray has been ordered, the chest x-ray and the x-ray report must accompany the documentation.
• Informs you of the results of your assessment and, if necessary, explains the results and the need for further action
• Notifies your employer of the outcome of the assessment and advises on the need for remedial action (if any).

Depending on the outcome, you may be advised to consult your own doctor for further advice, investigation or treatment.

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Approved persons are usually allied health professionals (nurses, paramedics, occupational therapists or physiotherapists) or medical practitioners. They are approved by Resources Safety to carry out MineHealth Assessments on completion of compulsory training in spirometry (lung function testing) and audiometry (hearing testing) to standards required by Resources Safety and WorkCover WA. Information on accredited courses can be obtained by contacting Resources Safety. Approved persons are subject to quality assurance processes.

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Your employer is responsible for arranging health surveillance, including MineHealth Assessments, for their employees. The cost of the health surveillance, including chest x-ray, is borne by your employer.

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The approved person or examining medical practitioner is required under the legislation to inform your employer of the outcome of the MineHealth assessment so that your employer can take remedial steps to ensure your safety and health.

Your employer may check with Resources Safety to ascertain whether and when you previously had a MineHealth assessment. However, your employer cannot obtain a copy of the actual MineHealth assessment without your consent.

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Resources Safety is responsible for the data entry and storage of the records. These are retained as confidential medical records and will not be released to a third party without your consent. The information is used for statistical purposes but not in a manner in which you can be identified.

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You may obtain a copy of your MineHealth Assessment results (including your chest x-ray report) from the medical practitioner or approved person at the time of your health assessment.

Alternatively you can obtain a copy of your results by writing to Resources Safety, but you will need to provide adequate identification with your request.

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For further information please contact Resources Safety's - Occupational health.

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