Last opportunity for a no-cost lung check-up in 2025

Mackay's ex-mining and quarry workforce has one last chance to book a no-cost lung check-up in 2025. HEART5 returns to the Resources Centre of Excellence from Tuesday, December 2, until Thursday, December 4 — the final regional stop scheduled before the festive break.

Former mine and quarry employees will have one final opportunity to obtain a free lung assessment on the HEART5 Mobile Health Unit before the year concludes, following a well-attended March visit to the same venue.

December screening at a glance

• Who: Anyone who previously worked in mines or quarries, retired or simply moved on
• Where: Resources Centre of Excellence, Mackay
• When: Tuesday 2 December to Thursday 4 December 2025
• Cost: Nil — respiratory screening services carry no charge for eligible attendees
• Why now: Early detection gives medical services the best chance of limiting damage

Why RSHQ wants ex-workers checked before the holidays

RSHQ's Executive Director of Occupational Health, Dean Barr, is urging individuals to step forward for testing prior to the commencement of the holiday season.

"We know this is a busy time for everyone and the focus is not necessarily on our health, but a mine dust lung disease can be debilitating and often presents without symptoms early on," said Mr Barr.

"Tick off one more item on your 2025 to do list before the year ends, and book in for a free lung check.

"An early diagnosis can mean treatment and potentially compensation, so we encourage every former worker - whether they have symptoms or not - to come forward and get tested."

Dust-related conditions develop quietly

Silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis can take years — sometimes decades — to reveal warning signs. Breathlessness on stairs or a nagging cough often gets written off as ageing, which is precisely why objective testing matters.

Baseline results carry lasting value too. Should breathing capacity decline later, clinicians have earlier readings to compare against, sharpening every decision about care and workplace restrictions.

Why mobile screening services reach further than fixed clinics

Distance remains a genuine barrier for retired resource workers across Central Queensland. Travelling hundreds of kilometres to metropolitan specialist services costs time, money and often a day's pay for whoever drives.

Parking diagnostic services in Mackay removes that hurdle entirely. Someone who left an open-cut operation twenty years ago can walk in, complete testing and be home for lunch.

We covered the wider rollout of mobile lung checks for regional Queensland miners earlier this year, and appetite for such outreach services has stayed strong.

What current operators should take from this visit

Dust exposure control sits at the centre of any credible respiratory health program. Crews running crushing, drilling or dry-cutting tasks deserve confidence that hygiene monitoring services sample genuine work positions rather than site-office air.

Four practical steps help:

• Align exposure records with your fitness for work policies and procedures so medical surveillance services run to a schedule instead of ad hoc.
• Confirm silica-bearing products sit within documented chemical handling and storage SOPs, with competent supervisors delivering induction services at each new location.
• Verify respirator fit-testing frequency, because poorly sealed masks quietly undo expensive engineering controls.
• Log dust-suppression faults against your SOP for equipment maintenance so repair services happen before protection lapses.

Diagnosis can open the door to compensation

Confirmed occupational dust disease may support a statutory claim, which is one reason regulators keep pressing former employees to attend. Premium decisions illustrate how seriously insurers weigh long-latency illness — see our updates on WorkCover premiums remaining unchanged for 2025-26 and Victoria's decision not to lift WorkCover rates.

Claims advisory services can assist ex-employees in assembling employment histories, superannuation records and exposure evidence, all of which strengthen a submission. Test results give clinical services something concrete to act upon as well.

How to book your place

Appointment slots fill quickly whenever the unit tours a mining region, so early registration is wise. Resources Safety & Health Queensland publishes eligibility criteria alongside its booking services for each tour date.

Additional information is available on the RSHQ website, including venue details and contact numbers for lung testing services.

Key takeaways

• 2–4 December: HEART5 parks at Mackay's Resources Centre of Excellence
• Eligibility covers ex-quarry and former mining personnel, symptomatic or not
• Assessment costs attendees nothing
• Early diagnosis supports better outcomes plus possible compensation
• Employers: pair exposure controls with documented procedures and scheduled worker screening services