ONE of the Mackay region's coal loading facilities has defended its working environment as a parliamentary committee into coal worker's pneumoconiosis, or black lung disease, examines coal handling procedures.

The committee is looking into all areas where workers are exposed to coal dust, not just mines. The two coal loading companies in the Mackay region, Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point coal terminals, were contacted for comment and only Dalrymple Bay responded.

"At Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, we value the health and wellbeing of our employees, both past, present and future. We monitor dust in accordance with DBCT's occupational health and hygiene management procedure, which is aligned to Standard 14 under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999,” it said. "This profile helps us to understand the risk for our employees. DBCT has dust extractors in strategic locations to minimise dust exposure. Our employees participate in regular monitoring to determine respirable dust exposure levels and take measures to reduce the risk of exposure.

"All medical evidence indicates that the chance of developing Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP) while working at a port like Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) is very low. Regardless, we decided to be proactive.

"DBCT offered open sessions on CWP to all its workers that were run by occupational physician, Dr Steve Sornachalam. All of our current employees have been offered chest x-rays and lung function tests to test for CWP, and we decided to offer this to our former employees. DBCT will cover the cost for past and present employees.”