f you are starting work in the mining industry, your employer will typically ask you to complete a mining medical before you are cleared to go to site. This is a standard part of the onboarding process for many mining, construction, and shutdown roles.

In most cases, a mining medical is essentially a comprehensive pre-employment medical, often combined with laboratory drug and alcohol testing to meet site safety requirements.

At HireHealth, we provide mining medicals designed to help workers get cleared quickly and help employers ensure compliance.

What is a mining medical?

A mining medical is a health assessment requested by your employer to confirm that you are fit to safely perform the inherent requirements of your role.

Mining work often involves:

• Long shifts and remote locations
• Physically demanding tasks
• Heavy machinery and safety-critical work
• Exposure to dust, noise, and environmental conditions

Because of this, employers require a more detailed medical assessment before mobilisation.

What does a mining medical usually include?

A mining medical will typically include:

• Medical history review
• Height, weight, and blood pressure
• Vision testing
• Hearing test (audiometry)
• Lung function testing (spirometry)
• Musculoskeletal assessment
• Functional capacity assessment (if required)
• General clinical examination
• Laboratory drug and alcohol testing
• Any additional employer or site-specific requirements

The exact components may vary depending on the mine site and job role.

Mining medicals are comprehensive pre-employment medicals – with some site-specific additional requirements

Although it is commonly referred to as a “mining medical,” it is usually best understood as a comprehensive pre-employment medical tailored for mining roles.

The key difference is that mining employers often require a higher level of assessment, including lab-based drug and alcohol testing, due to the safety-critical nature of the work.

Why mines insist on lab drug and alcohol testing instead of IDAS

Drug and alcohol compliance is a critical requirement across most mine sites. Employers often request laboratory drug and alcohol testing as part of the mining medical to ensure:

• Compliance with site safety policies
• Reliable and documented results
• Alignment with employer or contractor requirements
• Reduced risk in high-risk work environments

This is why mining medicals typically go beyond basic pre-employment checks.

Who needs a mining medical?

You will usually be asked to complete a mining medical if your employer requires it as part of your job offer or mobilisation process.

This commonly applies to:

• New employees entering the mining industry
• FIFO workers heading to site
• Contractors and shutdown workers
• Maintenance and construction workers on mine sites
• Workers in safety-critical roles

Requirements can vary by employer and mine site

Different mining companies and contractors may have slightly different requirements, forms, or additional testing.

When booking your mining medical, it is important to provide:

• Your employer’s name
• The mine site (if known)
• Your job role
• Any paperwork or instructions you have received

This helps ensure your assessment meets all required standards and avoids delays.

Mining medicals with HireHealth

At HireHealth, we provide mining medicals in Perth that align with employer and site requirements. In most cases, this means arranging a comprehensive pre-employment medical with laboratory drug and alcohol testing, along with any additional assessments needed.

Our focus is on helping you get cleared efficiently so you can start work without unnecessary delays.

Book your mining medical

If your employer has asked you to complete a mining medical, HireHealth can help you organise the right assessment quickly.

When booking, let us know:

• Your employer or contractor
• The mine site (if applicable)
• Your role
• Any forms or medical instructions provided

Get ready for site

A mining medical is a standard requirement requested by employers in the mining industry. In most cases, it is simply a comprehensive pre-employment medical with lab drug and alcohol testing, tailored to the specific needs of mining work.

If you need a mining medical in Perth, HireHealth is here to help you complete the process smoothly and professionally.