At Lungscreen our first and foremost consideration is the welfare of Australian industrial workers. As such, we are proud to offer an all-inclusive lung screening and registry service for coal mine workers and their employers, as well as other industrial workers.
This is provided through an effective chest X-ray screening program for the early diagnosis of Coal Mine Dust Lung Diseases as well as other occupational lung diseases.
These diseases are often caused by accumulative inhalation of respirable coal mine dust including silicates, carbon, and quartz. Coal Mine Dust Lung Diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silicosis, emphysema, diffuse dust-related fibrosis and the fibrotic lung diseases of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP) as well as the most severe form, Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF).
We believe collaboration is the key to delivering value through a quality occupational lung screening and reporting program. Chest X-ray and medical imaging plays a vital role in diagnosis of occupational lung disease. We work collaboratively with other specialists in this field to ensure that all X-rays and imaging are performed to the highest quality standards and reported using the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards. Achieving this requires a unified vision aligned with an innovative and dedicated team of lung specialists.
Our team of Radiologists are fellowship trained and accredited to the highest standards set by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR). Any abnormality will be notified to the referring clinician and occupational health specialist. All incidental abnormal findings are also reviewed by our clinical team and communicated to the referring practitioner.
Occupational lung diseases affect the respiratory system and include Coal Workers ‘Pneumoconiosis’ (CWP), also known as Black Lung disease, but also include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, silicosis, emphysema, diffuse dust-related fibrosis and Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF). These diseases are often caused by accumulative inhalation of dust including silicates, carbon, and quartz.
Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (or Black Lung disease), is caused by prolonged exposure to respirable coal dust. If a worker is exposed to high concentrations of coal dust over several years, the dust collects in the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs causing a reaction that results in scarring of lung tissue, reducing the elasticity of the lung. If enough scar tissue forms, lung function can be seriously reduced.
The Coal Mine Worker’s Health Scheme ensures all Queensland coal mine workers receive a health assessment upon entry to the industry, then at least every 5 years and upon retirement (on a voluntary basis). The health assessment includes a chest X-ray examination. Your employer is responsible to ensure these occur and for the payment of these assessments.
We provide an effective chest X-ray screening program for early diagnosis and management of Coal Mine Dust Lung Diseases as well as other occupational lung diseases. The current Coal Mine Worker’s Health Scheme requires all Qld coal mine workers' chest X-rays be assessed against the International Labour Organization (ILO) standard, to ensure early detection of the disease Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWP). In 2017 Lungscreen was proud to be appointed by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy to provide this service to coal mine workers across Queensland, by Lungscreen’s team of NIOSH B-Reader approved Radiologists, from January 2018.