silica dust
Impact: Federal mine safety agency considers tougher response to silica dust after Public Health Watch report
A proposed rule to protect coal miners from severe black lung acknowledges just a fraction of thousands of cases of disease.
It’s been decades since toxic dust rules for mines have improved. Lawmakers are taking notice
Black lung has surged in Appalachia in recent years. Research has tied the epidemic to silica dust, which can burrow deep into miners’ lungs.
Kentucky coal company faces federal charges for faking coal dust tests
A federal court issued an indictment against a coal company for falsifying coal dust tests. It could mean penalties and jail time.
Federal mine safety agency to increase silica dust inspections
The mine safety agency is effectively putting operators on notice, saying it will increase inspections at mines with repeat offenses.
Black lung patients, advocates urge mine safety officials to update silica dust standards
The federal Mine Safety Health Administration is expected to issue a new proposed standard. Advocates support any moves the agency makes towards a new standard, but some worry it won’t go far enough.
Lawmakers, union urge mine safety regulators to act on silica dust
A group of Ohio Valley senators says a watchdog agency’s recent report shows that federal regulators must do more to protect coal miners from silica dust.
Newsletter
Federal watchdog finds coal safety regulator not protecting miners from silica dust
MSHA’s current standards for silica have not substantively changed in over 50 years, the report found, despite growing consensus that silica is a major contributor to a surge in black lung disease that’s centered in the Ohio Valley.
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