A 39-year-old Queensland coal miner diagnosed with black lung had the condition for almost nine years, despite being given the all-clear in regular company medical checks to continue working underground.
Key points:
- Coal miner with black lung had been given all-clear in regular medical checks
- Government review of mining health scheme finds "major system failure at virtually all levels"
- Queensland Resources Council says review "a huge wake-up call for our industry"
"I'm angry. Very angry," coal miner Steve Mellor told 7.30. "Angry at the mining industry, at the doctors that just let this slip by and the radiologists that weren't checking for what they were supposed to be checking for."
His case dramatically highlights deficiencies in the current Queensland industry's health scheme, which are identified in a Government review to be released this week.
The ABC has obtained a leaked copy of the review, which identifies "major system failure at virtually all levels" and recommends a major overhaul.
Earlier this year Mr Mellor took time out from his job as a coal miner to help care for his dying father, unaware of his own medical condition.
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