Notifiable occupational respiratory diseases

Information for patients

If you have concerns about your health after working in a dusty environment, it is important to visit your GP. Early diagnosis and preventive measures may help to make sure that respiratory symptoms do not develop further.

If an occupational respiratory disease is detected, your GP can refer you to a respiratory or occupational medical specialist.

If this specialist makes a diagnosis of a notifiable occupational respiratory disease caused by occupational exposure to inorganic dust, they are required to make a notification to the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry.

In Queensland, occupational respiratory diseases that must be notified to the National Registry are:

cancer (caused by occupational exposure to inorganic dust)
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
pneumoconiosis including:
- asbestosis
- coal workers’ pneumoconiosis
- mixed-dust pneumoconiosis
- silicosis.

Silicosis is a prescribed occupational respiratory disease under the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Act 2023 and must be reported to the National Registry under Commonwealth law. The remaining notifiable occupational respiratory diseases must be reported to the National Registry under Queensland law.

Examples of inorganic dust include dust from silica, coal, asbestos, natural stone, tungsten, cobalt, aluminium and beryllium.

Consent

Patient consent is not required to provide minimum notification information about a notifiable occupational respiratory disease to the National Registry. Minimum notification information includes:

details about the disease(s)
information that identifies the patient and their contact details
details on the occupational exposure that caused the disease(s).

Patient consent is required to provide additional notification information about a notifiable occupational respiratory disease to the National Registry. Additional notification information includes:

relevant medical test results
work history that has contributed to the disease
the patient's height, weight, smoking history and employment status.

Privacy

Information collected by the National Registry

The National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry patient privacy and consent statement is available.

Information that was reported to Queensland Health prior to 23 September 2025

All historical dust lung disease information provided to Queensland Health prior to 23 September 2025 is recorded in the historical dust lung disease register. Under the Public Health Act 2005, strict confidentiality and disclosure of information obligations apply to the historical dust lung disease register.

Personal information collected in the historical dust lung disease register is handled in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 and the Department of Health Privacy Policy. All personal information is securely stored and only accessible by authorised Queensland Health staff.

Personal information is not disclosed to any third parties without consent of the person to whom the information relates unless the disclosure is authorised or required by law.

Accessing information

Accessing information collected by the National Registry

You can get more information about the handling of your personal information by the National Registry. The privacy policy includes information about how to access your personal information from the National Registry.

Accessing information that was reported to Queensland Health prior to 23 September 2025

Queensland Health supports your right to see or amend the personal information (including your health information) we hold about you in the historical dust lung disease register. Find out how to make a right to information request to access or amend your health records and personal information.

Health screening and monitoring by other agencies

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has health records of coal mine workers who have undergone a health assessment, as well as other information such as the names of workers across mining and quarrying industries who have been reported to RSHQ with a notifiable dust lung disease.

The Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) collects information on workers across all industries who have lodged a claim for workers' compensation for a work-related injury.

RSHQ, OIR and Queensland Health can access relevant information about occupational respiratory diseases reported to the National Registry via an online portal. The confidentiality of this information is also protected by legislation.

Workers' compensation

Workers who are diagnosed with an occupational respiratory disease may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Read more about work-related respiratory diseases at WorkCover Queensland.

Mine Dust Health Support Service (MDHSS)

MDHSS is a joint initiative of RSHQ, WorkCover Queensland and OIR.

This confidential helpline provides information on screening, compensation and support services for current and former mine and quarry workers who are diagnosed with a dust lung disease because of their employment, as well as their families.

This service can be contacted by calling 1300 445 715 or emailing info@minedusthealthsupport.com.

More information

Last updated:: 25 September 2025