Pre-Employment MedicalsMines Rescue Medical — ERT CMWHS.
A two-part legislative health and fitness assessment for mine rescue and Emergency Response Team personnel — built around the Coal Board Medical and a cardiovascular fitness test to confirm workers can safely perform rescue work in SCBA.
Delivered through KINNECT’s national clinic network and onsite for crew-level programs.
- Two parts: Coal Board Medical + cardiovascular fitness test
- Every 2 years under 40, annually from age 40
- For all mine rescue & ERT personnel
- Confirms fitness to work safely in SCBA
- Delivered in-clinic and onsite nationwide
1–2 hours for the Coal Board Medical and ~30 minutes for the fitness test.
The short version
A Mines Rescue Medical (ERT CMWHS) is a two-part legislative health and fitness assessment for mine rescue and Emergency Response Team personnel. Part 1 is a full Coal Board Medical — vision, spirometry, hearing, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and medical history. Part 2 is a cardiovascular fitness test that confirms the worker can safely perform physically demanding rescue work in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). KINNECT delivers it every two years for workers under 40 and annually from age 40.
Mine rescue & Emergency Response Team personnel.
Toxic atmospheres, poor ventilation and casualty retrieval require mine rescue personnel to wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Combined with physically demanding tasks like moving fallen materials, this dramatically increases the risk of heat stress and injury. Mine rescue members need a higher level of health and fitness than standard mining roles — this assessment confirms they can safely perform the work and protect their team.
Assessments are required every 2 years for workers up to age 40, and annually from age 40.
What’s included in the Coal Board Medical.
Part 1 is a full Coal Board Medical — the same statutory components that underpin coal industry health surveillance, delivered by an approved medical practitioner. It takes approximately 1–2 hours to complete.
Vision test
Visual acuity and screening to support safe operation in low-light and obscured rescue conditions.
Spirometry test
Lung function testing to confirm respiratory capacity for SCBA use and exposure-prone work.
Respiratory questionnaire
Targeted screen for respiratory symptoms, asthma history and risk factors relevant to rescue work.
Urinalysis
Standard urinalysis as part of the comprehensive Coal Board Medical battery.
Hearing test
Audiometric testing aligned to coal industry noise-exposure monitoring requirements.
Auditory canal exam
Otoscopic examination of the ear canal and tympanic membrane.
Cardiovascular exam
Blood pressure, heart sounds and cardiovascular history relevant to fitness-for-duty.
Musculoskeletal exam
Functional musculoskeletal assessment to support safe rescue tasking decisions.
Abdomen examination
Clinical examination of the abdomen as part of the broader physical assessment.
Skin examination
Skin examination to identify conditions relevant to PPE use and chemical exposure.
Medical history questionnaire
Comprehensive medical and occupational history review by the assessing doctor.
Cardiovascular fitness for safe SCBA-based rescue work.
Part 2 confirms a mine rescue member has the cardiovascular capacity and physical tolerance required to perform rescue tasks safely while wearing self-contained breathing apparatus — even in heat-stressed, low-visibility conditions.
The fitness component takes around 30 minutes and is delivered alongside the Coal Board Medical so workers complete the full assessment in a single visit.
- 01
Cardiovascular fitness test
Sub-maximal aerobic testing to confirm cardiovascular capacity for rescue tasks in SCBA.
- 02
Functional Capacity Assessment
Optional task-based assessment of strength, endurance and load-handling for rescue scenarios.
- 03
Heat-stress tolerance considered
Cardiovascular reserve is evaluated with the elevated thermal load of SCBA-based work in mind.
- 04
Same-visit completion
Run immediately after Part 1 so workers leave with a complete assessment in one appointment.
From booking to certificate, in one appointment.
KINNECT runs both parts of the Mines Rescue Medical back-to-back so crews aren’t pulled off-site twice. Results flow through a regulated reporting pathway and the confidentiality of the medical record is protected by law.
Drug & alcohol testing
The Mines Rescue Medical does not include drug and alcohol testing as standard. Some employers request a D&A test at the same appointment — results aren’t reviewed or commented on by the AMA in the Section 4 summary. Let KINNECT know if you’d like it added.
- 1
Book or request a quote
Get a tailored quote for your crew or book individual assessments through your KINNECT account manager or our team.
- 2
In-clinic or onsite delivery
Choose KINNECT’s national clinic network or have us deliver the medical onsite for whole rescue teams.
- 3
Part 1 — Coal Board Medical
An approved medical practitioner completes the full statutory Coal Board Medical (~1–2 hours).
- 4
Part 2 — Fitness test
A 30-minute cardiovascular fitness test (with an optional Functional Capacity Assessment) closes out the appointment.
- 5
Section 4 summary issued
A Section 4 fitness-for-duty summary is issued to the employer; full medical results remain confidential and protected by law.
Find a KINNECT clinic near you.
Explore our current clinic locations. Service availability varies by clinic, so contact us to confirm the right location for this service.
Queensland
New South Wales
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia
Northern Territory
Rescue work is unforgiving — fitness assessment isn’t optional.
By thoroughly assessing the fitness of workers who perform physically and psychologically demanding rescue operations in dangerous conditions, KINNECT’s Mines Rescue Medical enables workers to avoid harm to themselves and the people they save.
- Protect mine rescue workers
- Protect the people they save
- Confirm safe SCBA tolerance
- Reduce heat-stress & injury risk
- Meet legislative health obligations
Frequently asked questions about Mines Rescue Medicals.
Who should complete a Mines Rescue Medical?
All mine rescue and Emergency Response Team personnel must undertake a Mines Rescue Medical. Assessments are required every two years for workers up to age 40, and annually from age 40.
Does the Mines Rescue Medical include drug & alcohol testing?
No. The Mines Rescue Medical does not include drug and alcohol testing as standard. Some employers request a D&A test at the time of the Coal Board Medical — those results are not reviewed or commented on by the AMA when issuing the Section 4 summary. KINNECT can add D&A testing on request.
How long does a Mines Rescue Medical take?
Approximately 1–2 hours for the Coal Board Medical (Part 1) and ~30 minutes for the cardiovascular fitness test (Part 2). KINNECT runs both back-to-back so the full assessment is completed in a single appointment.
Can KINNECT deliver Mines Rescue Medicals onsite?
Yes. KINNECT delivers Mines Rescue Medicals both in-clinic across our national network and onsite for crew-level rescue programs. Talk to our team about an onsite schedule.
What information does the employer receive?
The employer receives a Section 4 summary indicating fitness for the mine rescue role and any relevant restrictions. Full medical results remain confidential and protected by law unless an Authority to Release form is signed by the worker.
Other pre-employment medicals KINNECT delivers.
Coal, silica, confined-space and rescue workforces all rely on KINNECT for statutory and site-specific medicals. Explore the most relevant sister services below, or visit the full pre-employment medicals category.
QLD Coal Board Medicals
Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme (CMWHS) medicals for Queensland coal mining roles.
Learn moreNSW Order 43 Coal Mine Workers Medical
Statutory health assessments for NSW coal mine workers under the Coal Services scheme.
Learn moreRespirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) Medicals
Silica-exposed worker monitoring including spirometry, chest imaging and physician review.
Learn moreConfined Space Medicals
Fitness-for-work assessments for personnel performing confined-space and breathing-apparatus work.
Learn morePre-Employment Functional Assessments
Functional Capacity Assessments tailored to the physical demands of the role.
Learn more
Protect your mines rescue workers — and those they save.
KINNECT can schedule individual or crew-level Mines Rescue Medicals across our national clinic network or onsite, with the Coal Board Medical and cardiovascular fitness test delivered together in a single appointment.