Lung Bus touring across NSW in 2014

A mobile respiratory screening service, affectionately called the Lung Bus, is visiting businesses across NSW this year. The bus is run by the state government’s Dust Diseases Board (DDB), whose job it is to care for workers affected by asbestos-related diseases.

The Lung Bus is equipped with an X-ray facility and other medical technology to carry out a range of tests, such as a lung function test, and is staffed by a doctor, radiographer and lung scientist who complete a thorough on-the-spot examination. The medical examination results are checked again by medical specialists at the DDB headquarters in Sydney.

“The DDB is one of the oldest compensation bodies of its type in the world,” DDB Acting General Manager Peter Dunphy said.

“For more than 80 years, the board has been involved in protecting workers from asbestos, as well as compensating and caring for workers who have contracted a dust disease as a result of their employment.

“This year alone we will provide support to more than 3500 people, as well as compensation payments of approximately $74 million.

Dunphy said the Lung Bus exists because it was important that affordable and accessible services are available for businesses and workers to keep employees safe while on the job.

“Employers are required under legislation to provide health monitoring for each employee who may be exposed to asbestos or other potentially dangerous dust,” he said.

“However, the DDB understands that it can be expensive and inconvenient for employers to provide respiratory health monitoring,” he said. “That’s why the DDB offers the Lung Bus as a one-stop service for all employers who have more than 30 employees that use their work site.

“The Lung Bus is proving very popular with businesses and is booked out months in advance,” Dunphy said.

The types of businesses that this could cover include electricity, construction, demolition, quarrying and manufacturing companies, but any business with more than 30 employees qualifies for the mobile service.

It only takes 15 minutes for each employee to be screened, and the Lung Bus can screen as many as 50 employees per day.

The benefits to employers include:

• a low-cost service with minimal disruption to work;
• expert staff using up-to-date equipment;
• compliance with work health and safety regulations;
• a health monitoring report sent to the employer.

The benefits to employees include:

• a health monitoring report sent to each employee;
• early detection and referral for respiratory abnormalities;
• referral to the Dust Diseases Board if evidence of a dust disease is found;
• reassurance and objective advice about occupational respiratory disease;
• possible early detection of other (non-respiratory) health problems.

For more information or to make a booking, phone the Health Monitoring Coordinator on (02) 8223 6600 or email health.monitoring@ddb.nsw.gov.au.