Mine dust lung diseases

MDLDs reported to RSHQ

Figure 1 - Number of MDLD reported to RSHQ for all mining since 1984 by financial year (current as at 30 June 2025)

Other MDLD: Another type of MDLD or the specific type of lung disease is to be confirmed (cases in this category may be re-classified over time as additional information is provided to RSHQ).

Cancer: Includes mesothelioma from asbestos exposure and other occupational lung cancers.

MDP: Mixed dust pneumoconiosis.

There is clear increasing trend in COPD diagnoses.  COPD is now the most common form of occupational lung disease reported across all sectors, underground and surface, and in both current and former workers. This disease is also caused by smoking, however many workers with COPD reported to RSHQ have never smoked. RSHQ has also received significantly more reports of non-work-related COPD. This highlights the importance of effectively managing risk from all potential sources and forms of exposure to airborne contaminant hazards. Information about hazard control and exposure monitoring is available on RSHQ’s website.

Figure 2 – Number of MDLD reported to RSHQ for current coal miners since 1984 by financial year (current as at 30 June 2025)

The majority of MDLD diagnoses continue to be reported from the coal mining industry. COPD is the most common disease, however the proportion of diagnosed CWP relative to other disease types is higher in underground mining compared to surface mining.

Figure 3 – Number of MDLD reported to RSHQ for current mineral mine and quarry workers since 1984 by financial year (current as at 30 June 2025)

The number of reported MDLDs from the MMQ industry is low compared with the coal mining industry. This may reflect the longstanding health surveillance program and MDLD reporting arrangements that are in place for Queensland’s coal miners. The introduced periodic respiratory health surveillance for MMQ workers has coincided with additional MDLD diagnoses from that sector being reported.

Figure 4 – Number of MDLD reported to RSHQ for retired and former mine and quarry workers since 2020 by financial year (current as at 30 June 2025)

Reported cases of MDLD among retired and former workers have increased in recent years, coinciding with former workers now eligible for free lung health checks paid for by RSHQ. Free respiratory health screening is available to retired mine and quarry workers at local RSHQ-registered clinics and from Heart of Australia’s mobile health service.

Find out how to apply for free former and retired worker respiratory screening here.

Workers diagnosed with MDLD reported to RSHQ

Figure 5 - Workers diagnosed with MDLD reported to RSHQ for all mining industries since 2014 -15 by financial year and disease type (current as at 30 June 2025)

Non-pneumoconiosis conditions include, but are not limited to, COPD, diffuse dust fibrosis, lung cancer and other undefined lung disease. Cases in this category may be re-classified over time as additional information is provided to RSHQ.

The proportion of workers diagnosed with one or more non-pneumoconiosis has substantially increased in recent years.

Total workers with MDLD

Figure 6 - Total workers with MDLD reported to RSHQ for all mining, since 1984 (current as at 30 June 2025)

The above figure represents the number of workers with MDLD reported to RSHQ.  Collectively, they have been diagnosed with 831 individual diseases.

Of these workers, 128 have been diagnosed with more than one MDLD.

Total Workers with Pneumoconiosis

Figure 7 – Total workers with pneumoconiosis reported to RSHQ for all mining, since 1984 (current as at 30 June 2025)

Mine dust can lead to a range of pathological changes in the lungs. In general terms, the resulting lung changes can be divided into two groups; those which are nodular (example CWP, mixed dust pneumoconiosis and silicosis) or fibrotic (fibrosis), and those which are non-nodular (example COPD and lung cancer). Due to being nodular in nature, CWP, mixed dust pneumoconiosis, and silicosis can be graded according to a scale of severity under the ILO classification.

Figure 8 - Workers diagnosed with progressive massive fibrosis reported to RSHQ for all mining, since 1984.

As at 30 June 2025, RSHQ has been advised that 19 reported cases of MDLD have progressed to the most severe category of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). This represents a small proportion of the total number of pneumoconiosis cases reported to RSHQ. Where disease severity has been reported to RSHQ, the majority of cases are in the early stages of disease.

Estimated prevalence rates for coal mine dust lung disease

Figure 9 — Estimated prevalence rates (per 1,000 coal miners) of coal mine dust lung disease in Queensland (financial year 2019/20) and internationally

As part of Resources Safety and Health Queensland’s ongoing commitment to better understanding mine dust lung disease, Cancer Council Queensland were engaged to undertake a prevalence study. The study focused specifically on coal mine dust lung disease (CMDLD). The study found prevalence of CMDLD in Queensland for 2019/20 to be estimated at 2.1 cases per 1,000 coal mine workers, including both underground and surface miners.

For comparative purposes, international prevalence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis has been estimated in this study at 34.5 cases for underground miners, and 18 cases for surface miners per 1,000 coal mine workers. Whilst prevalence rate estimates for Queensland coal miners are lower than international pooled prevalence rates, they should be compared with caution due to different methods for calculating prevalence estimates, as outlined in the full report. In addition, international prevalence could only be calculated for coal workers’ pneumoconiosis whereas prevalence in Queensland was estimated for the full range of CMDLDs.

Figure 10 - Estimated prevalence rates (per 1,000 coal miners) of coal mine dust lung disease in Queensland by financial year

Prevalence rate estimates have increased over time, primarily due to an increase in number of diagnosed CMDLD cases, particularly since the early 2000s, and the inclusion of both newly diagnosed and pre-existing cases in the population.

It should be noted that prevalence rate differs from incidence of reported cases as it shows the rate of disease within the current and former mining population. This ‘per-capita’ type calculation is much more informative as prevalence provides context to the incidence rate, considers workforce size changes over time and allows comparisons with other jurisdictions and industries.