Friday, November 1, 2013

Battling Against Black Lung Disease




West Virginia is the nation’s second-largest coal-producing state, but with that comes the struggle against a deadly occupational disease know as Black Lung.

For close to 45 years laws have been in place to protect miners from coal workers pneumoconiosis is caused by exposure to coal dust and results in chronic breathing and respiratory problems. But was once thought to be a disease of the past, has made its way back and it not only affecting miners nationwide, but right here at home.

In the late 1960 coal miners began calling for protection from work related disease and injury.

"The Federal Health and Safety Act was enacted after the Farmington Number Nine disaster in 1968. A lot of safety laws were put into place, thousands of miners lives were saved because of that law. But people still today suffer and die from dreaded Black Lung Disease." said Mike Caputo, UMWA District 31 Vice President.

That law gave miners a new set of protections that still today include limits on dust exposure. It also established a medical program known as the coal workers health surveillance program.

"Under the law a coal operator has to file a mine x-ray plan with us (NIOSH) every five years, and in that plan they have to outline how they
plan to offer this free chest x-ray to their miners. It is mandatory that the coal company offer the free chest x-ray which the coal company pays for, however it is voluntary as to whether or not the miners take advantage of this or not." said Anita Wolfe, Public Health Analyst at
NIOSH the Nation Institute for Occupation Health and Safety in Morgantown

Each year it is estimated that close to two thousand miners die from Black Lung Disease.  What was once thought to be on the decline has now made it’s was back into our area.

Like all occupational diseases, Black Lung is man-made and can be prevented, but still no cure exists.

"This accelerated rate of disease that we're seeing, we're seeing in younger miners, and we are seeing miners progress through the different stages of disease at a very accelerated rate, much faster than they use too. Although it should be, it's not not a disease of the past, it's a disease that's still occurring every day." said Wolfe

In the Coal Mine Act Congress also established the Black Lung Benefits Program. In 1977, amendments established a Black Lung Disability Trust Fund to provide compensation to miners, and also made coal companies responsible for compensation, and medical costs for victims of black lung that had worked for them.

"We've learned a lot over the years in this industry, and we have to be forever vigilant." said Caputo.

Since the late 70's the United Mine Workers of America have recommended legislative and administrative reforms to make it easier for Black Lung victims to establish eligibility for benefits.