Black lung coalmine dust ‘double the legal limit’

Coal dust levels at a mine where three workers were diagnosed with a deadly disease were double the legal limits, a report says.

Coal dust levels inhaled at Queensland’s Carborough Downs mine, where three miners have been diagnosed with deadly black lung disease, were double the legal limits, an independent report sent to the site’s owner reveals.

Samples taken in a survey by GCG Health Safety & Hygiene disclosed the respirable coal dust levels in miners who were not wearing a protective respirator.

The findings were obtained by The Australian after three cases of deadly coal miner’s pneumoconiosis — or black lung — were found in miners who worked at Carborough Downs.

The three are among five cases of the disease revealed by the Queensland government in recent months in what is thought to be first outbreak in more than 30 years. The Queensland Department of Natural Resources declared this year Carborough Downs was now “compliant” with legal standards.

However, the GCG report commissioned by mine owner Vale in 2014 reveals a failure of monitoring in past years. The report noted that one sample, collected from a “longwall shearer operator”, recorded an exposure to respirable dust of 6.9mg, eclipsing the legal shift-adjusted exposure limit of 2.8mg. Another worker recorded an exposure to respirable dust of 6.6mg. The sample was taken in conditions that were considered “normal”, the report states.

Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham has said he expects the numbers of miners diagnosed to climb, but sought to reassure miners the government had coal dust levels under control.

The five miners diagnosed have filed compensation claims against Queensland mine owners BHP, Anglo and Vale in what is expected to be the first of dozens of cases.

Black lung is untreatable but can be controlled by minimising exposure to coal dust.

The mining union is calling for an independent statutory authority to monitor mines but Dr Lynham has refused to commit to the demand ahead of the results of a review into the outbreak, expected this year.

The department’s acting chief inspector of mines, Russell Albury, was formerly a manager at Carborough Downs, having worked there from 2003 to 2011. A department spokesman dismissed any conflict of interest.

Vale failed to respond to requests for comment.