M10.8 Occupationally-related disease (Pneumoconiosis)

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According to the American Lung Association, pneumoconiosis (also known as black lung disease), is caused by dusts that are breathed in and deposited deep in the lungs causing lasting damage. 

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) was advised by the Committee to:

  1. Consider lowering the allowable exposure limit on coal mine dust
  2. Establish separate permissible exposure limits for silica (quartz) and coal mine dusts
  3. Make better checks on the effectiveness of mine operators' dust control plans before MHSA approves them
  4. Improve dust control in surface coal mines
  5. Improve miner training on dust
... and more!

 As of late, since August 2016, MSHA's respirable dust rule went into effect which added a number of increased protection for coal miners by:

  • Lowering the 2.0 milligrams of dust per cubic meter of air to 1.5 milligrams at underground and surface coal mines.
  • Lowering the 1.0 milligrams to 05 milligrams for intake air at underground mines and for part 90 miners who have evidence of pneumoconiosis development.
Lowering the concentrations in the air that miners breathe is the most effective means of preventing such lung diseases caused by excessive exposure. 

In May 2015, there was a requirement placed on industry to maintain Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM) certification in the tasks the certified person performs, every three years, and the person must pass the MSHA examination. This was done to keep industry complaint and to fulfill obligations to sample for respirable coal mine dust levels. 

It's interesting to see the evolution of policy to protect coal mine workers. It's baffling to think that these individuals who helped the U.S. evolve were forgotten and there was nothing to protect them years ago. The MSHA has been protecting miners since 1978, but so many people before that time needed protection. It's is great that there is policy, but clearly more needs to be done to prevent unnecessary deaths. 



Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 5, 2018 at 6:55 PM

    Hi Daisy,
    I really loved how you laid out this post. It was very easy to see the evolution of policy to protect coal mine workers. It is scary to know that before 1978, there was no protections for these workers and they were putting their lives at risk for the good of the people (supplying energy). It is good to know now that there is an organization that represents the safety of these workers now.
    Great post!
    Kera

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownNovember 7, 2018 at 7:20 PM

    Hi Daisy,

    Thank you for sharing such an informative post about pneumoconiosis. I am very glad to hear that there have been increased protective measures taken to decrease exposure for coal miners. I agree that the evolution of the policy to protect coal mine workers is very interesting and I also feel sad to think about those who were exposed to the dangerous dust before regulations and policies were in effect.

    ReplyDelete

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