Coal Mine Workers Health Scheme | QLD Coal Board Medicals

How it works

All Queensland coal mine workers are required under legislation to complete a health assessment. The Queensland Government, via the independent regulator Resources Safety and Health RSHQ, have designed the online portal (ResHealth) to undertake these health assessments. It is now mandatory that this portal is used.

Prior to organising your booking with us you will need to complete a number of steps through ResHealth. They offer a Support Guides for Employers to help employers navigate this process.

Change of Employer

A coal worker changing employer must undergo a health assessment (CMWHS) relevant to their new employer. This new assessment will need to be initiated through ResHealth by the new employer and the worker will be required to log on to ResHealth and complete their section. Once completed an email will go through to their AMA (Appointed Medical Advisor) to notify the AMA that the assessment is ready for review. If new information is required before the assessment can be completed (e.g. new ILO CXR) then the AMA will advise.

The employer will also need to contact Sonic HealthPlus Mackay on 07 49 525 100 (option 3) or email shp.coal@sonichealthplus.com.au

Call Us Email Us

We have created a step-by-step summary guide to provide an understanding of the process required.

Download guide

Summary Guide for Employers

Register with QGov.
Nominate a Super User*. The Super User will need to verify their identity. This person will be the administrator and control who can access ResHealth on the company’s behalf.
Once the company representative is registered with ResHealth, you can begin to book a health assessment for your workers.
To start a health assessment, you will need the following information: Worker’s Email Address | Date of Birth | Full Legal Name | Contact Phone Number.
Once you have received a Health Assessment (HA) Number from ResHealth, appointments can be booked through Sonic HealthPlus.
All bookings are made via the booking contact centre or clinic directly.
When you contact the booking contact centre or clinics, you will need to provide a HA Number, Date of Birth, AMA, Candidate Email and Candidate Phone Number. If the employers do not have this information, bookings cannot be made.
Other information that will be asked when booking an appointment includes: New entrant or previously worked in Mining, Lung Screen ID Number and Urgent or Routine for Chest – X-ray.
Once the appointment has been made, a booking confirmation will be sent to (you) the employer.
Before the booking appointment, the employer will need to complete Section 1 via ResHealthPortal.
Once the employer has completed Section 1, an email will be sent to the worker from the employer to complete Section 2.

On the day of appointment:

When the candidate arrives at the clinic, details they must provide are: lungscreen referral, Health Surveillance Unit (HSU) form, driver’s license and Sonic HealthPlus consent form.

*Super User: An appointed person who will initiate workers’ health assessments on your (the employee’s) behalf.

Booking

Important: Please note that ResHealth is not a booking platform for your assessment with Sonic HealthPlus.

If assessments are cancelled in ResHealth, it DOES NOT cancel the booking at Sonic HealthPlus.

To book in for a Qld Coal Mine Workers medical please contact our Contact Centre on 1300 763 822, email bookings@sonichealthplus.com.au or you may also contact your preferred Sonic HealthPlus clinic

Call Us Email Us

Only the employer’s appointed AMA can complete and sign Section 4 in the process of the health assessment. If your organisation does not have an AMA, please contact Sonic HealthPlus through the Enquire form below.

Once your employer or prospective employer have initiated your health assessment process through ResHealth you will receive an email from them to begin your section of the process before you have your medical.

To help you prepare for your medical, please familiarise yourself and follow the steps outlined below:

Medical Assessment

Wear loose clothing. Bring prescription glasses if worn (remove contact lenses).

Medical Reports

Please bring to your appointment updated Doctor's Report regarding any chronic medical condition you have or that requires a specialist review.

Preparing for your Coal Worker Medical

Spirometry – (Lung function test)

If you are using bronchodilator medication, where possible and safe, ensure that you withhold your current treatment base on Bronchodilator Medication Withholding Times – Table below outlines

Bronchodilator Medication	Withholding Times
SABA – Short-acting β2-agonist (eg. albuterol or salbutamol)	4-6 hours
SAMA – Short-acting muscarinic antagonist (eg. ipratropium bromide)	12 hours
LABA – Long-acting β2-agonist (eg. formoterol or salmeterol)	24 hours
Ultra-LABA - Long-acting β2-agonist (indacaterol, vilanterol, or olodaterol)	36 hours
LAMA – Long-acting muscarinic antagonist (eg. tiotropium, umeclidinium, aclidinium, or glycopyrronium)	36-48 hours

Important: Please advise of any recent or active transmissible or systemic lung infection including TB (Tuberculosis)

Preparing for your Coal Worker Medical

Spirometry Pre-test Guide

Avoid smoking/vaping/water pipe use within 1 hour before testing
Consuming intoxicants within 8 hours before testing
Performing vigorous exercise within 1 hour before testing

There is now a requirement to compare your past lung function (spirometry) results with those you achieve in this medical. If you have had a previous spirometry test, please bring your past results to your medical. Where this is not possible, the AMA (Appointed Medical Adviser) will make a request to the RSHQ (Resources Safety and Health Qld) for past results. Be aware this will lengthen the time to complete your Health Assessment Report (previously Section 4 certificate.)

ILO CXR – (Chest Xray)
All medicals require either a new ILO Chest Xray, or a copy of your past (less than 2 years old) ILO Chest Xray B-Read report. Your Section 4 certificate will be delayed if you have opted to provide a past report and you don’t provide this to the Doctor at the time of your appointment.

AUD - Hearing Test
You MUST have 16 hours of quiet time prior to test (For e.g. no loud music, riding motorbike or travelling in an aircraft).

Preparing for your medical – other tests

Other Important Information

The Health Assessment report is completed and signed by the Appointed Medical Adviser (AMA) and details; fitness for duty, work restrictions and requirements for a subsequent follow-up and assessment of the worker. Only the HA Report has been forwarded to the employer. The AMA only completes section 4s when all examinations and follow up investigations, including the chest X-Ray examination, are completed.

See the link below to find explanatory notes that may relate to your Health Assessment Report (previously Section 4).

Explanatory Notes

For more information about Coal Mine Dust Lung Diseases and Support for Affected Workers, please download the booklet below.

Mine Dust Lung Disease

ResHealth FAQ

General

When do I have to start using ResHealth?

RSHQ is transitioning to ResHealth and the health assessment process is moving online. This transition has already commenced and will continue throughout the remainder of 2022 and in to early 2023. From 1 April 2023 it will be mandatory for all coal mine worker health assessments to be started through ResHealth.

What is a HA reference?

The HA reference is used to find a health assessment in ResHealth. Each time a health assessment is started it will have a unique reference. This is so that the employer, worker and medical professional can access the relevant part of the health assessment they are completing.

Explanatory Notes for the Coal Mine Worker

Download the Explanatory Notes for the Coal Mine Worker - Health Assessment Report (Section 4) here.

Employer

How do I start using ResHealth?

You will need to nominate a super user who will register your company and themselves at the same time. The super user will need to verify their identity. This person will be the administrator for ResHealth and control who can access ResHealth on your company’s behalf.

Can I use ResHealth for booking a health assessment examination?

ResHealth does not arrange medical appointments. Appointments should be booked with medical providers directly. For any modifications or cancellations to an appointment made your medical provider will also need to be contacted directly.

How does the worker complete their section if they don’t have access to a computer or email address?

Workers do need a personal email address to register with QGov and use ResHealth. Workers can access support to complete their section from the same sources as they do now when completing the paper form – they may seek support from their employer or a friend or family member. The worker section in ResHealth is mobile-friendly so workers can complete their section anywhere, on any device, such as a tablet or smart phone.

Employee

What is ResHealth?

ResHealth is the new online solution for completing your Coal Mine Workers' Health Scheme health assessment (historically known as the coal board medical).

What do I need to know to make an appointment?

Your employer will start the process by sending you an email with a link and reference.

When do I need to complete my part of the online health assessment?

You will need to register and complete your section of the health assessment before attending your medical examination.

I want to arrange my own health assessment to get a job in the mine industry, is this possible?

No. An employer must arrange and pay for a health assessment for you before you start work with them as a coal mine worker. Your employer, or prospective employer, will initiate your health assessment process within ResHealth. You should speak to your prospective employer about the health assessment arrangements that they will make.

Sole traders are also able to pay for health assessments.

Queensland Coal Mine Workers Health Scheme

Bookings

Appoint a Medical Adviser

Worker

FAQ

How it works

Change of Employer

Summary Guide for Employers

Booking

Please provide your AMA's details

Please advise if you have a preferred Sonic HealthPlus Appointed Medical Adviser (if known)

Medical Assessment

Medical Reports

Spirometry – (Lung function test)

Preparing for your Coal Worker Medical

Spirometry Pre-test Guide

Other Important Information

ResHealth FAQ

General

When do I have to start using ResHealth?

What is a HA reference?

Explanatory Notes for the Coal Mine Worker

Employer

How do I start using ResHealth?

Can I use ResHealth for booking a health assessment examination?

How does the worker complete their section if they don’t have access to a computer or email address?

Employee

What is ResHealth?

What do I need to know to make an appointment?

When do I need to complete my part of the online health assessment?

I want to arrange my own health assessment to get a job in the mine industry, is this possible?

Queensland Coal Mine Workers Health Scheme

Bookings

Appoint a Medical Adviser

Worker

FAQ

How it works

Change of Employer

Summary Guide for Employers

Booking

Please provide your AMA's details

Please advise if you have a preferred Sonic HealthPlus Appointed Medical Adviser (if known)

Medical Assessment

Medical Reports

Spirometry – (Lung function test)

Preparing for your Coal Worker Medical

Spirometry Pre-test Guide

Other Important Information

ResHealth FAQ

General

When do I have to start using ResHealth?

What is a HA reference?

Explanatory Notes for the Coal Mine Worker

Employer

How do I start using ResHealth?

Can I use ResHealth for booking a health assessment examination?

How does the worker complete their section if they don’t have access to a computer or email address?

Employee

What is ResHealth?

What do I need to know to make an appointment?

When do I need to complete my part of the online health assessment?

I want to arrange my own health assessment to get a job in the mine industry, is this possible?

General Practice

Occupational Health

QLD Coal Medicals

Individual

Company

Phone Our Bookings Team

Online Booking Request

New Client

Existing Client