NIOSH Study Shows Resurgence of Black Lung Disease Among Working Appalachian Coal Miners
New research from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has found that the rate of the most severe form of black lung among…
New York Times Editorial on Black Lung: “Miners Battle Black Lung, and Bureaucracy”
Today the New York Times printed an editorial written by the Times’s Editorial Board about black lung and current issues facing miners and their families struggling…
NIOSH Expands Coal Workers’ Health Evaluation Program
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is expanding its national program of health surveillance for coal miners. In accordance with the Mine Safety and…
NIOSH Study Finds Coal Miners at Small Mines More Likely to Have Black Lung
In 1998, the Louisville Courier-Journal ran “Dust, Deception and Death,” a five-part investigation into the shocking prevalence of black lung in the mining industry. One story…
National Black Lung Association and Black Lung Clinics Support New Dust Rule
Yesterday the National Black Lung Association and the National Coalition of Black Lung and Respiratory Disease Clinics announced their support of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s…
Black Lung News Roundup Following July 22 Senate Hearing
The past week saw a lot of news coverage of black lung issues following the Senate hearing on Tuesday July 22nd (see previous post). In attendance…
Congressional Hearing on “How Unethical Legal and Medical Practices Stack the Deck Against Black Lung Claimants”
This morning beginning at 9:45 a.m., a congressional hearing is being held on “How Unethical Legal and Medical Practices Stack the Deck Against Black Lung Claimants.” …
Majority of Miners and Widows Not Represented Before Benefits Review Board in June 2014
In June 2014, most miners and widows were unrepresented before the Department of Labor’s Benefits Review Board (the Department’s appellate body which reviews the decisions of…
Head of MSHA Explains Benefits of New Coal Mine Dust Rule
On the Department of Labor’s blog, the head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Joe Main, wrote a post which draws upon his experience…
Dr. Paul Wheeler Presumed Not to Be Credible by Department of Labor; Department to Tell Miners with Denied Claims to Refile
Major news: Dr. Wheeler is now presumed not to be believable by the Department of Labor. The Director of the Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation…