Resources Safety & Health Queensland has worked with the Heart of Australia organisation to create a world-first mobile health unit to help with the early detection of mine dust lung diseases among regional workers.
Minister for Resources, Scott Stewart said the HEART 5 vehicle was a revolutionary piece of technology that would bring high-quality respiratory health screenings to mine and quarry workers in some of the most remote areas.
“It means workers won’t have to travel as far to access highly-specialised services, ensuring earlier detection and intervention in cases of mine dust lung diseases like black lung and silicosis,” Mr Stewart said.
“Containing an x-ray machine and a world-first battery-powered high-resolution computerised tomography (CT) scanner, HEART 5 has been built by Queenslanders, for Queenslanders,” he said.
Mr Stewart said the robust vehicle was constructed in Narangba to the highest standards, in order to withstand the wear and tear of travelling through rural Queensland.
Founder of Heart of Australia, Dr Rolf Gomes said HEART 5 could do a CT scan while parked on a mine site.
“HEART 5 breaks down the tyranny of distance, so if you do have a lung disease, we can find it early and quickly,” Dr Gomes said.
The Minister said Queensland had some of the toughest mine safety laws in the world, lowered allowable levels of dust exposure, prescribed requirements for monitoring and reporting, and enhanced health surveillance across the mining sector.
“We’re proud to have HEART 5 on the road helping to uphold our high standards for health and safety in the resources sector,” he said.
“Our Government will continue to support workers, on and off the job site,” Mr Stewart said.
