The exposure of workers to dust in mines is a key issue of concern for the Queensland Mines Inspectorate which will continue to work with mine operators to minimise worker exposure to unhealthy dust levels.

“Inhaling excessive amounts of fine particles and dust can cause lung disease or pneumoconiosis,” it said.

“Lung disease in mine workers can be caused by exposure to rock dust, coal dust, silica dust, diesel particulate matter, welding fume and other finely powdered materials that become airborne during mining, maintenance or processing.”

The type of lung disease often relates to the nature of dust a worker has been exposed to. For example, Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis also known as Black Lung is caused by exposure to coal dust, Silicosis is caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust and Asbestosis is caused by exposure to asbestos fibres.

Lung disease occurs when the human body is unable to break-down or remove certain types of dust once it has entered the lower parts of the lungs.

Dust lodged in the lungs can cause an inflammatory process, scarring in the lungs and reducing the body's ability to breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.

The scarring, over time, can also cause heart disease due to the restriction of blood flow from the heart to the lungs.

As the onset of lung disease is a gradual process, early signs and symptoms may go unnoticed by workers.

“Health surveillance is important as it is often possible to detect lung disease in its early stages,” the Queensland Inspectorate said.

“Furthermore, dust-related lung diseases don't usually occur with a just few exposures to dust. These diseases typically occur when a person has been exposed to dust over the exposure limit for many years; or dust at very high concentrations on a number of occasions.”

Section 135 of the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Regulation (2001) and section 89 of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Regulation (2001) require that workers' exposure does not exceed the exposure limit applying to specific dust hazards.

”It is recommended that mine operators audit and review the effectiveness and implementation of the site safety and health management system to minimise the risk of lung disease to workers,” the inspectorate said.

“It is also recommended site senior executives review that a mine's current management plan for dust includes regular monitoring and assessment of the working environment, work procedures, and equipment and installations at the mine to minimise worker exposure to unhealthy dust levels.”