Another coal mine worker has been diagnosed with black lung disease, the Queensland Government has confirmed.
In a statement released this evening, Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said the man was a 51-year-old electrician.
The man does not currently work in the mining industry, but was diagnosed during a pre-employment medical assessment.
The potentially fatal disease, also known as coal miners’ pneumoconiosis, was thought to have been eradicated from Australian coal fields.
But at least five former or current coal miners have been confirmed to have the disease.
In late December, the mining union, CFMEU, flagged that it was in the process of verifying a number of unconfirmed cases.
“At this stage, there are four confirmed cases of black lung,” CFMEU Queensland mining president, Stephen Smyth said.
“And we have another four unconfirmed cases which will be verified in the forthcoming weeks.”
The announcement cames two days after Dr Lynham outlined a plan to help tackle the disease.
All coal mine workers are required to undergo a mandatory medical assessment at least once every five years.
In December, underground coal mine operators were warned by the mining union to reduce their dust levels below the state’s safety standard or they would be shut down.