Mining contractor penalised after director falsified medical records for workers

A Queensland mining contractor has been ordered to pay a fine of $32,500 by the Brisbane Magistrates Court for not arranging health evaluations for two coal mine employees.

A probe initiated by the state's resources regulator, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), indicated that the testing failure happened subsequent to a company director's falsification of health assessment reports and a drug and alcohol testing report.

The company admitted guilt for not adhering to its responsibilities as stipulated by the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 and received a sentence on Friday, 24 October, without a conviction being recorded.

Patrick Jensen, the Director of Health Strategy and Compliance at RSHQ, said the sentencing conveyed a definitive message regarding the non-negotiable nature of worker safety and health.

"Medical tests ensure workers can do their job safely and are vital in the early detection of occupational diseases like black lung,” Mr Jensen said.

“RSHQ takes these matters very seriously and we won’t hesitate to take proportionate regulatory action where appropriate.”

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