Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Anthony Lynham said doctors who undertake the regular official health assessments of miners - known as nominated medical advisers - would be given standard introductory training and require minimum training and experience.

“The re-emergence of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis [Black Lung] is an issue I have taken very seriously and that’s why there’s an independent review underway into the state’s health screening system,” he said.

“One of the interim findings of the independent is a closer focus on developing and maintaining a manageable core cohort of nominated medical advisers.

“I have instructed my Department of Natural Resources and Mines to take immediate action on this recommendation.

“Effective health assessments are critical to screening system and early identification and prevention of coal miners’ pneumoconiosis.

“It’s critical that we have a core group of experienced nominated medical advisers who are skilled, experienced, can share information and be kept up-to-date on the specific occupational health requirements for Queensland’s coal mine workers.”

Mining companies currently select doctors, who include general practitioners and physicians, as nominated medical advisers. Dr Lynham said the government was also looking at alternative ways to appoint them.

The recommendations about medicos are contained in an interim report from the independent review team led by Professor Malcolm Sim from Monash University.

The review, announced by Dr Lynham late last year, is looking at ways to improve the existing coal workers’ health screening system.

Professor Sim presented his interim findings to a reference group of union, industry, medical and government representatives in Brisbane last week. The team is due to provide the final report mid-year.

Dr Lynham said the next step was for a working party of unions and mining companies’ representatives to develop the minimum training and experience standards and training for nominated medical advisers.

The review is part of the government’s five-point action plan to tackle coal worker’s pneumoconiosis. Queensland has six confirmed cases of pneumoconiosis.

The action plan also includes: taking action on coal mines exceeding regulated limits on dust levels; improving how information is collected and used to ensure cases aren’t missed; and investigating regulatory changes in consultation with the Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee placing the issue on the agenda for the national council of mining ministers, as part of the mine safety legislation review already underway.

The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union supported the recommendations but said more work needs to be done.

The first recommendations stemming from the Queensland Government’s Review into screening practices of Black Lung disease have been released with the mining union cautiously supportive of the proposals, CFMEU Mining and Energy Division Queensland District President Stephen Smyth said.

“The union support the recommendation to have a tripartite group look at the screening aspect, but that needs to be done by independent assessors and not doctors, or other medical professionals, aligned to coal companies,” he said.

“The nominated medical assessors need to be trained and competent to the ILO standards for detecting Black Lung, including to the B Reader level which we all accept is world’s best practice, and is already being used by coal companies in Queensland such as Vale.”

Smyth said for families and workers to be confident that their loved ones were getting the right advice, with screenings robust, transparent, and not influenced by industry.

“Our members and their families need to have faith and confidence in the system that is assessing the health of their loved ones. That faith has been ripped away with the inability of the industry to detect multiple cases of the disease and that needs to be rebuilt,” Smyth said.

“There is still a lot of work to be done to address the current issues and ensure all present coal miners have a clean bill of health and are free of Black Lung.

“When the current crop of underground miners is checked, we then have to work through miners in open cuts, and those retired or no longer working in the industry.”

Smyth said the report reflected a number of views and concerns raised by the union.

“The report supports our position on a number of the failures we have identified and we intend to formalise our response in writing on the matters we believe require further work,” Smyth said.

“We still have reservations with some aspects of the report.”

Queensland Resources Council acting CEO Greg Lane said: "The Queensland Resources Council is keen to work with all stakeholders in progressing the interim findings released today as part of the state government’s review of the respiratory component of the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme.

"As anticipated, the review initiated by the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dr Anthony Lynham, has released an interim report identifying enhanced medical assessment practices to further protect the health of our workforce.

"The health and safety of workers is a top priority and the resources sector is committed to maintaining compliance with the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme.

"The resources sector has co-operated fully with the review process and in support of the Minister’s five-point action plan announced earlier this year.

"Industry remains committed to implementing the recommendations of Professor Sim and his team of experts, in a timely matter."