If your company is engaged in Australia’s coal mining industry, you have a more important responsibility of ensuring all your workers are safe from the health risks the nature of their job poses. This is where government-mandated health assessments, such as the Coal Services Order 43 medicals, come in. They are a key part of the country’s coal mining health and safety scheme to ensure all those working at mining sites are fit to perform their respective tasks.

What Is the Coal Services Order 43

The Coal Services Order 43, formally known as the Coal Services Health Monitoring Requirements for Coal Mine Workers Order No. 43, was built on the conditions and requirements stipulated in the Coal Services Order 41 to protect the safety and wellness of workers in Australia’s coal mining industry. After an in-depth review due to the re-identification of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, it has replaced Order 41 as a stronger policy that is consistent with other legislation in continuously providing protection of these workers.

The primary goal of this health surveillance policy is to ensure medical examinations will continue to deliver the best evidence-based results for coal mine workers.

What Procedures Are Used in Order 43 Medicals

Order 43 medicals use mandatory health assessments that are scheduled by occupational physicians. Based on your situation, these procedures could include:

• * Respiratory assessment
• * Cardiovascular system diagnostic test
• * Musculoskeletal examination
• * Abdominal examination
• * Vision test
• * Hearing test
• * Skin test
• * Spirometry
• * Urinalysis
• * Medical history interview       

Aside from these primary tests, there are other assessments that might be required from your company. For example, your workers might be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing or dust mask fit testing Brisbane occupational physicians facilitate.

Who Are Qualified to Conduct These Medicals

Generally speaking, an approved medical practitioner or occupational physician should facilitate the pre-placement and periodic tests. However, registered nurses are also allowed to perform periodic tests, given that they are still under the supervision of an approved medical practitioner.

Basically, there is a set of minimum qualifications for those performing the assessments, identifying workplace injury classification, and issuing fit-to-work forms for coal workers.

For Doctors

• * Registered by the Medical Board of Australia
• * Submitted an Annual Calibration Statement to the Coal Services
• * Completed the required medical induction programme required by Coal Services
• * Finished a course in spirometry interpretation
• * Listed as one of the approved medical practitioners on Coal Services’ website

For Nurses

• * Registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a Division 1-registered nurse
• * Completed courses in spirometry and audiometry

When hiring a team to conduct these assessments for your company, make sure they are accredited and already have years of experience in delivering pre-employment and Coal Board medicals. They should also use innovative solutions to generate evidence-based results to help you maximise the health and productivity of your workers.

When Should Coal Workers Undergo Order 43 Medicals

The frequency of the medical assessments has not changed from Order 41.

For pre-placement, a worker should complete their assessment prior to starting their job at the site. For periodic assessments, your existing workers should undergo the test every three years since they completed their pre-placement assessment.

Aside from the pre-placement and periodic tests, Order 43 also specifies the inclusion of exit medicals, which are offered to those who decide to stop working for your company or are retiring. This is to identify any medical condition a worker may have developed during their tenure that may affect their retirement, as well as determine the appropriate course of action to manage and lessen such an impact.  

Importance of Conducting Order 43 Medicals

It cannot be stressed enough—Coal Services Order 43 medical assessments are necessary to ensure all your workers are fit and can perform their tasks in the most efficient way. These periodic tests will help you catch medical conditions that they might have developed from working at the site or from being exposed to hazardous materials.

On top of that, being compliant with the Order 43 health surveillance policy will keep you away from the hefty fines and penalties that the Australian government imposes on those who ignore such a policy.

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