Occupational Health | Bulletin | No.OH0004 V 1 | 07 April 2022

Revised TSANZ spirometry standards

The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ), in partnership with Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), has released the 2022 Standards for the Delivery of Spirometry for Resource Sector Workers and the Standards for Spirometry Training Courses companion document (2022 Standards).

The 2022 Standards

The original standards were first published in 2017, in response to the re-identification of mine dust lung disease. Additions and changes have been incorporated into the 2022 Standards to:

• align with updates to the ATS/ERS Standards 2019 and ERS/ATS guidelines for interpretation;
• address the outcomes of the clinical spirometry audit undertaken by TSANZ and the accreditation program being undertaken by Quality Innovation Performance Limited (QIP);
• align with the Clinical Pathways Guideline (the Guideline) by removing the separate ‘Algorithm for Interpretation of Spirometry in Coal Workers’ in the previous version of the standards; and
• address feedback received by RSHQ during consultation on the draft revised standards.

The 2022 Standards have also been updated to note their application to resource sector workers generally, aligning with legislative changes relating to respiratory health surveillance in the mineral mining and quarrying industry.

Transition to the 2022 Standards

The 2022 Standards were released by the TSANZ on 31 March 2022.

To allow providers adequate time for implementation, all spirometry for Queensland mine and quarry workers and spirometry training must be conducted in accordance with these 2022 Standards from 1 March 2023. However, practices and training courses can adopt the 2022 Standards before this date if they wish.

All accreditations with QIP due after 1 March 2023 will be conducted against the 2022 Standards. However, spirometry practices and training providers may choose to complete accreditation against the 2022 Standards from 1 September 2022.

Supporting Materials

Materials outlining the key changes will be released to further support providers to transition to the 2022 Standards.