QLD Coal Board Medicals

Employers must ensure that Coal Board Medicals are completed on every new employee intended to work at a coal mine. A Coal Board Medical is valid for five years provided the worker remains employed with the same company. If a coal mine worker changes employers, a new Coal Board Medical is required, depending on the circumstances.

Please note that anyone recovering from an injury should not undertake a Coal Board Medical until their condition is stable.

It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that each person they employ or intend to employ completes a health assessment. A worker is not able to undertake a health assessment privately without an employer or intended employer. If you are hiring for a position that requires a CMWHS, an applicant is unable to obtain one prior to applying. It is also the employer’s responsibility to pay for the health assessment and any reviews required for completion (e.g. CT scans, respiratory physician assessments). The employer is not responsible to pay for any treatment that may be required after the section 4 has been issued.

If a health problem is identified in the CMWHS, the Appointed Medical Adviser (AMA) may sign off as fit with restrictions. The restrictions detailed in the Section 4 are designed to minimise the worker’s risk for further injury or illness. If your employee is fit with restrictions, this does not mean they should be precluded from working. It is up to the employer’s discretion on whether they are able to accommodate the worker’s restriction.

If your employee requires a medical review it will be listed on the section 4 under 4.3 (Fitness for duty). 4.3c/d will provide the due date of the medical review and what is to be assessed. Please note that your employee will have trouble accessing site if the review is not completed by the due date.

Please contact our health surveillance department on 07 3999 9395 if the review date is upcoming. Our health surveillance officers will explain the review process to both yourself and your employee.

This can be arranged if you are able to provide evidence of the employee’s section 4 listed under your company name. We would also require a release form signed by your employee. You must notify the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (DNRME) for our AMA’s to manage existing medicals. Only an AMA appointed in writing by your company can complete and sign your employee’s section 4. If you have not appointed KINNECT’s AMA’s, we will ask you to fill out a brief form in order to have this completed. We will submit this form to the DNRME on your behalf. Please note that fees apply for this service.

Please contact our health surveillance department on 07 3999 9395 for assistance with notifying the DNRME and obtaining release forms.

We can release results to another medical provider as long as the employee has provided written consent. Please contact our health surveillance department on 07 3999 9395 to request a release form. This form will need to be signed by your employee.

Section 4 Name Changes can be made under certain circumstances.  The current requirements for Coal Board Medical Section 4 Name Change Requests are:

• The Examining Medical Officer (EMO) Assessment must have been completed within the last 12 months.
• Full results including ILO CXR and B Read and Comparative Spiro must be provided.
• A new Section 1 must be completed by the new employer.
• A short Medical History Questionnaire must also be completed.

KINNECT’s AMA will review all of the information above and determine about whether a new Section 4 can be issued. The employee’s current health must be assessed as having not changed significantly since their last health assessment. This sign-off decision is at the AMA’s discretion.

The Section 1 of the Coal Mine Workers Health Assessment details important information on the employees job role and specific exposure groups. Only the employer can accurately complete this section of the Coal Mine Workers Health Assessment. This information is required prior to the Examining Medical Officer (EMO) being able to conduct the medical assessment.