‘Black Lung’ disease makes a comeback in Queensland coal mines, miners stop work

Four Queensland coal miners have been diagnosed with “Black Lung” disease considered to be potentially fatal. Till now, it was thought that the disease was eradicated in Australia years back. Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines published some data yesterday that pointed out that mines with coal dust levels above legal limits have increased six-fold between 2012 and 2014. The disease is caused due to long-term exposure to coal dust.

The above mentioned period saw collapsing revenues for coal miners and therefore the link between increased coal dust levels and “black lung” incidence was overlooked. Now, the data has revived concerns that Australian mine safety standards have reduced in correlation with commodity prices.

According to Yahoo! News, Queensland coal mine workers are leaving their jobs because of resurgence of the disease.

“Workers will walk off mines today for their own health. Right now we don't know how far this disease has spread and continuing to work in conditions that cause black lung will put more people's lives at risk,” Queensland Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) president Stephen Smyth said.

ABC News reported that unions fear that this might be the tip of an iceberg with hundreds or thousands of coal mine workers possibly already having the deadly disease. Although X-rays and lung tests have existed since 1947, the new longwall mining techniques and the mining boom have exposed miners to more coal dust.

Apparently all monitoring systems failed and thousands of X-rays were never reviewed. Sadly, miners were relying on a system that was useless and redundant.

Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham has confirmed that at least three cases of “Black Lung” have been reported. He also said that the Monash University Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health will start reviewing current medical assessment methodologies, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

The Queensland government has passed an order to review all testing procedures within the industry. As per Stuff.co.nz, two of the “Black Lung” sufferers are from Carborough Downs coal mine, 80% of which is owned by a Brazilian miner Vale. The remaining 20% is owned by five Korean and Japanese steel makers.

Vale’s Brisbane office has refused to comment on the matter publicly.

Contact the writer of this story at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or let us know what you think below.