WV PUBLIC BROADCASTING: West Virginia Morning Covers Black Lung

Overexposure to silica dust is driving a resurgence of severe black lung disease. More than a decade ago, ACLC petitioned MSHA to establish a dust standard for respirable crystalline silica. Although MSHA granted our petition and promised a new rule, it never materialized. Meanwhile, countless miners have become sick and died from severe black lung disease. Once again, we’re demanding a change and urging the administration to implement life-saving protections from silica dust.

On July 8th, we submitted our petition for rulemaking to MSHA. WMMT’s Katie Myers interviewed director Wes Addington about the increasing need for a silica rule to keep miners safe.

“Because the mining conditions have changed and so much more rock has to be mined to get to the coal seams, miners develop much more serious disease. That’s because the silica content in the rock surrounding the coal seams is much more deadly to the lungs than coal dust.”

Listen to the story here starting at 3 minutes and 51 seconds.