Nance Haxton reported this story on Friday, May 13, 2016 12:17:00

KIM LANDERS: Another Queensland coal miner has been diagnosed with the deadly black lung disease and the mining union is warning it expects more cases to emerge.



The disease is caused by breathing excessive levels of coal dust and it was thought to have been eradicated 30 years ago.



Nance Haxton reports.



NANCE HAXTON: Queensland Mines Minister, Anthony Lyneham, informed Parliament last night, that the Government has confirmed another case of black lung disease or coal workers' pneumoconiosis.



This time the victim is a 55-year-old coalminer from central Queensland, who had worked underground for 28 years.



ANTHONY LYNEHAM: It is critical that government, industry and unions continue our work together to tackle the re-emergence of this disease.



I continue to expect full, frank and considerate advice from the Coalmining Safety and Health Advisory Committee of union, employer and departmental representatives.



NANCE HAXTON: The potentially fatal chronic disease is caused by inhaling coal dust over long periods, causing irreparable lung damage.



Mr Lyneham is urging all coalminers to have thorough health checks.



ANTHONY LYNEHAM: I commit here again in this House to take whatever action is required to protect the health and safety of our coalminers and I'd urge any coalminer with health concerns to see their GP.



NANCE HAXTON: But this commitment has come too late for some. Seven coalminers are now confirmed as having black lung disease.



The recent interim report from the Senate Select Committee on Health blamed a perfect storm of regulatory failure and mining industry indifference for the disease's re-emergence.



But Queensland Resources Council chief executive, Michael Roche, says the mining industry is not entirely to blame.



MICHAEL ROCHE: It's very concerning to learn that another worker has been confirmed as having pneumoconiosis. It's also concerning that this worker’s condition seems to have only come to light when his employer gave him the chance to be re-tested.



So this appears to confirm the findings of the state government's review of the health assessment system for coal workers. That whole system needs to be overhauled.



NANCE HAXTON: CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union) Queensland mining division president, Steve Smyth, says the union knows of at least five more cases of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and a national approach is needed to combat the disease.



STEVE SMYTH: Some of these miners have actually spent quite a lot of time in New South Wales. Keith Stoddart was one of those.



This guy confirmed today worked in New South Wales, so there is a linkage there of a lot of these guys have worked in New South Wales and come to Queensland. And you know, anywhere where you produce coal and people are exposed to coal dust, there's going to be the risk of them being exposed to pneumoconiosis.



I think people need to take their blinkers off and consider it across a national perspective.



NANCE HAXTON: What do you think has caused this resurgence in the disease?



STEVE SMYTH: Complacency, neglect, people taking their eye off the ball.



You know, we had an increase in coal production; we've had an increase in the type of equipment we use, the dust levels have been allowed to increase. We haven't had enforcement of the law.



We've had an increase of company doctors who are not trained or assessed or competent to read x-rays and we've had the regulator who's allowed coal companies to do whatever they like and mine coal at record rates and record production without enforcing the law.



KIM LANDERS: CFMEU Queensland mining division president, Steve Smyth, ending Nance Haxton's report.