The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is bringing a mobile testing unit to North Central West Virginia this week to offer free black lung screenings to current and former coal miners.
Screenings will be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 23-25 at Mylan Park in Morgantown and on July 30 at the Craig Civic Center in Kingwood. While appointments are encouraged, they are not required. Those interested can schedule an appointment by calling 1-888-480-4042 or emailing cwhsp@cdc.gov. Results from the screenings will be provided within 8 to 10 weeks, including follow-up information based on the results.
Christopher Parker, a public health advisor with NIOSH’s Respiratory Health Division and a field coordinator for the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program, emphasized the importance of these screenings. Early detection of black lung disease is crucial for managing the condition before it progresses to more severe stages.
“It’s always beneficial to monitor your health regularly,” Parker stated. “Black lung is a debilitating disease that worsens over time. Not checking your health puts you at risk and affects your ability to work and support your family. People might feel fine now, but conditions can change in a few years.”
Participants at this week’s screenings, or at future NIOSH-sponsored events, will not incur any charges. Before the screening, individuals will complete two brief questionnaires—one regarding work history and another about their health background. The screenings will include a blood pressure check, an X-ray, and a spirometry test for qualifying individuals. Each visit, conducted in a NIOSH mobile unit, is expected to take around 30 minutes and will be kept completely confidential.
Parker noted that the mobile unit is part of a long-standing initiative to enhance black lung awareness and detection. This mobile approach allows NIOSH to target areas with high disease rates, such as central Appalachia, where black lung is notably prevalent.
Black lung disease, caused by inhaling silica dust from working underground, is a significant concern in central Appalachia. Recent reports indicate that about 20% of coal miners in this region suffer from black lung, the highest rate in over 25 years. Additionally, the most severe form of the condition affects 1 in 20 miners in the area. This resurgence is attributed to the increased difficulty and dangers of coal mining, including the need to excavate more silica-rich sandstone.
A new federal rule from the Department of Labor and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), finalized earlier this year, aims to address this issue. The rule establishes a separate exposure limit for silica dust, reducing the maximum allowable exposure to 50 micrograms per cubic meter over a full shift and setting an action level at 25 micrograms per cubic meter. It also mandates uniform exposure monitoring and control measures for mine operators.
Despite the rule’s broad support among health experts and labor advocates, there is concern about its future. An appropriations bill currently under consideration could hinder its implementation. This bill, which details the Department of Labor’s funding for fiscal year 2025, includes a provision that would prohibit the use of funds to apply the new silica dust rule. The bill has passed a House subcommittee and the House Appropriations Committee and is awaiting a full House vote before moving to the Senate, where it may be amended.
NIOSH black lung screenings schedule
Mylan Park – MSHA Mine Rescue Contest
500 Mylan Park Ln, Morgantown, WV 26501
Tuesday, July 23 thru Thursday, July 25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Craig Civic Center
311 Tunnelton St, Kingwood, WV 26537
Tuesday, July 30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wild Things Baseball Park
1 Washington Federal Way, Washington, PA 15301
Monday, Aug. 5, 8 a.m.to 4 p.m.
Wheeling Park
1801 National Rd, Wheeling, WV 26003
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
2035 Southgate Pkwy, Cambridge, OH 43725
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
1101 Spring St, Zanesville, OH 43701
Thursday, Aug. 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mercer Mall
261 Mercer Mall Rd, Bluefield, WV 24701
Tuesday, Sept. 10, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Claypool Hill
180 Clay Dr, Pounding Mill, VA 24637
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
1 Partnership Cir, Abingdon, VA 24210
Thursday, Sept. 12, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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