Increase in interference with dust monitoring devices at mine sites

Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) has issued a Safety Alert to the state’s coal mines following an increase in the number of invalid respirable dust samples caused by workers interfering with monitoring devices.

Accurate dust sampling is essential for measuring exposure to airborne contaminants that can cause serious work-related diseases such as silicosis, black lung or COPD, all of which are permanent, progressive and preventable.

RSHQ's Chief Inspector of Coal Mines Jacques le Roux urged all coal mine operators, sites and workers to address this behaviour by ensuring sampling pumps are worn correctly, monitoring equipment is not interfered with, and accurate exposure data is collected.

“In 2025, approximately 500 respirable dust samples measured at coal mines in Queensland were invalid (5.16%), and around one quarter of those were deemed invalid due to coal mine workers removing the monitoring device,” Mr le Roux said.

“This is not acceptable and all site senior executives and mine operators should review their respirable dust monitoring systems and ensure the integrity of monitoring activities at their mine sites.

“Respirable dust monitoring is an important step in protecting workers from serious and irreversible occupational disease, and intentional interference with monitoring equipment may be constitute a breach of obligations under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999.”

Mr le Roux said the integrity of the monitoring program relied on cooperation between service providers, mine management and workers.

“Mine workers play a vital role in ensuring dust monitoring results accurately reflect workplace conditions,” he said.

“It is important that respirable dust sampling pumps continue to be worn and sampling heads positioned within the breathing zone, for the full sampling period, and pumps or sampling heads must not be removed, turned off, obstructed or interfered with in any way.

“Strong leadership is essential to ensure workers understand respirable dust monitoring is an important health protection measure and integral to the mine’s safety and health management system.”

For more information, read RSHQ’s full Safety Alert.

Media contact

RSHQ Media Team
0457 094 250
media@rshq.qld.gov.au