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Miners urged to ‘look after your lungs’

February 27, 2025

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Coal Services NSW has launched a respiratory health campaign urging coal miners to stay vigilant about protecting their lungs.           

The campaign aims to raise awareness about respiratory health and equip workers with the knowledge to protect their lungs effectively.                                                                                          

Key components of the campaign include promoting essential practices such as avoiding smoking and vaping, wearing properly fitted respiratory protection, understanding dust sources, following safe work practices to minimise dust exposure, and taking steps to enhance overall lung health.

Are you at risk of developing a dust-related lung disease?                                          

CS Health’s Head of Medicine Dr David Meredith explained that coal mining produces not only dust from coal, but also dust from other minerals, including silica.     

“The risk of developing a dust-related disease is directly linked to a person’s total level of exposure. Repeated exposure can put coal mine workers at risk of developing coal mine dust lung diseases (CMDLD).”                                                                        

CMDLD includes not only coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), otherwise known as black lung disease, which is caused by inhalation and build-up of coal dust but also silicosis, which is caused from the inhalation and build-up of respirable crystalline silica or quartz from drilling or cutting stone. It can also cause a mixture of both, mixed dust disease and sometimes a dust-related diffuse fibrosis.                                                                       

“It also causes other obstructive lung diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” he added.                    

The good news is coal mine dust lung diseases are 100% preventable.                           

To protect your lungs while at work you must always be aware of potential dust sources in your workplace and minimise your exposure by taking appropriate action. Some examples are:

  • avoiding operating downwind of dust sources if possible
  • using water sprays and appropriate cleaning techniques
  • reporting any hazards you see
  • wearing appropriately fitted respiratory PPE (bad news if you have facial hair… it can interfere with the respirator seal and decreases its effectiveness)

To support the campaign, CS Health has developed a range of educational materials, including videos, posters, and fact sheets, all available on the Coal Services website.

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