Mobile lung testing truck scheduled to visit Longreach

Quick answer: The HEART5 mobile lung testing truck is scheduled to visit Longreach for the first time on 2 June, delivering free lung screenings to former mine workers, then travelling north to Mt Isa across 4–5 June.

Bookings are open now, and every assessment carries no cost for eligible participants.

HEART5 mobile screening truck: visit at a glance

• Vehicle: HEART5 Mobile Health Unit — a B-double fitted with diagnostic equipment
• Dates and locations: Longreach (2 June), followed by Mt Isa (4–5 June)
• Cost: Free of charge for eligible past mining employees
• Conditions screened: Silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) and COPD
• Delivered by: RSHQ Surveillance Unit staff

First Longreach stop for the travelling B-double

The HEART5 Mobile Health Unit is set to arrive in Longreach for the first time early next month to deliver free lung screenings to former mine workers.

Resources Safety and Health Queensland’s (RSHQ) Health Surveillance Unit Director Evan Pengelly said these assessments played a crucial role in uncovering occupational diseases that might frequently remain undetected.

“HEART5 is a B-double filled with medical equipment to screen for mine dust lung diseases like silicosis, black lung, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” he said.

“These diseases take time to develop – sometimes up to 10 years and with no symptoms – that’s why it’s so important to get tested even after you have left the industry.

“We’re proud to be expanding the HEART5 mobile lung checks for the very first time to Longreach on 2 June before heading to Mt Isa on 4-5 June.”

What the onboard screening services cover

Testing inside the visiting trailer mirrors what a respiratory specialist would normally order. Diagnostic services provided during each session typically include:

• Spirometry measuring breathing capacity and airflow limitation
• Chest imaging reviewed by specialist readers
• A detailed occupational exposure and symptom history
• Written results forwarded to a nominated doctor so follow-up services can begin promptly

Who is eligible for the free screenings

Retired and former mining employees may use the services, whether their work involved underground operations, open cut pits, or quarry sites.

Eligibility extends to anyone who left the resources sector decades ago, because dust-related damage often surfaces long after exposure ends. Screening services equally suit people who moved into transport, maintenance, or plant operation roles once mining employment finished.

Why early detection protects lung health

Dust diseases rarely announce themselves. Surveillance services identify structural change on imaging well before breathlessness appears, giving treating doctors far more options.

Silicosis remains one of the most serious occupational respiratory hazards in Australia, and RSHQ has previously urged ex-miners to undergo testing for undetected silicosis, COPD, and black lung disease. Comparable outreach services have already reached other inland centres — read our coverage of previous regional lung screening visits.

How to arrange a session

Contact the Surveillance Unit booking services directly to secure a time slot before the unit rolls into town, since capacity in smaller centres fills quickly.

More information is available on the RSHQ website.

Mobile services shrink the distance barrier

Specialist respiratory services sit hundreds of kilometres away from many inland towns, so bringing equipment directly to residents removes travel, accommodation, and lost-income obstacles.

Support services offered alongside testing include plain-language explanation of findings plus referral pathways for anyone whose imaging shows concerning change.

Dust control duties for employers and contractors

Screening detects harm; engineered controls prevent it. Businesses providing earthmoving, haulage, or maintenance services still carry duties to keep respirable dust beneath exposure standards using water suppression, enclosed cabins with filtered air, and fit-tested respiratory protection. Meeting worker health surveillance obligations sits alongside those measures.

Documented method statements make each control auditable. SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture supplies templates covering high-dust plant and vehicle tasks, including:

• Bark Blower Truck SWMS for airborne organic particulate work
• Vacuum Service Truck SWMS covering waste and slurry recovery services
• Articulated Dump Truck SWMS for haul road movements
• Our complete Earthmoving & Mobile Plant SWMS range supporting site-wide plant services

Fire and mechanical hazards on heavy vehicles deserve equal attention — something reinforced by incidents such as a truck driver hospitalised following a blaze.

Key takeaways

• HEART5 arrives in Longreach 2 June; Mt Isa follows 4–5 June
• Every screening is provided at no charge to eligible former workers
• Dust lung diseases may develop across 10 years without producing symptoms
• Testing services remain worthwhile decades after someone exits the resources industry
• Employers should pair surveillance with documented dust controls and safe work method statements

Unsure which documents apply to your operation? Our customer services team can match templates to your plant, tasks, and site conditions.