Mar 26 Energy & Environment Study Shows Bias, Conflicts Of Interest Among Doctors Who Read Black Lung X-rays Doctors hired by coal companies in black lung cases are far less likely to diagnose the disease in X-rays than are independent doctors or those who are hired by coal miners, a new study has concluded, pointing to conflicts of interest in the system that sick miners use to receive assistance. The doctors who worked […] By Curtis Tate Mar 26 Energy & Environment Study Shows Bias, Conflicts Of Interest Among Doctors Who Read Black Lung X-rays Curtis Tate
Sep 30 Energy & Environment Bob Murray, Who Fought Black Lung Regulations As A Coal Operator, Has Filed For Black Lung Benefits Robert E. Murray, the former CEO and president of the now-bankrupt Murray Energy, has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Labor for black lung benefits. For years, Murray and his company fought against federal mine safety regulations aimed at reducing the debilitating disease. “I founded the company and created 8,000 jobs there until […] By Brittany Patterson and Dave Mistich Sep 30 Energy & Environment Bob Murray, Who Fought Black Lung Regulations As A Coal Operator, Has Filed For Black Lung Benefits Brittany Patterson and Dave Mistich
Feb 26 Health “Lax Oversight” Threatens Health Fund for Miners With Black Lung, Watchdog Finds Just three bankruptcies of American coal companies have added more than $800 million in costs to a federal government program that funds health care for disabled coal miners, the Government Accountability said in a report released Wednesday. The report comes after a 2018 analysis by the same agency which found the Black Lung Disability Trust […] By Sydney Boles Feb 26 Health “Lax Oversight” Threatens Health Fund for Miners With Black Lung, Watchdog Finds Sydney Boles
Feb 21 Energy & Environment Black Lung Benefits Drop For Kentucky Coal Miners After Controversial Law Change Lynn Estel Stanley was the kind of coal mine foreman who wanted to know if there was a safety problem, and would always be the one to go fix it himself. He was also the kind of miner who refused to slow down, even when his men told him he was overexerting himself. But when […] By Sydney Boles Feb 21 Energy & Environment Black Lung Benefits Drop For Kentucky Coal Miners After Controversial Law Change Sydney Boles
Feb 5 Health Scientists, Mine Safety Officials Discuss Black Lung Protections Officials with the Mine Safety and Health Administration met for the first time with miners’ health researchers Wednesday in a new partnership designed to discuss ways to better protect coal miners from the dust that causes black lung disease. In future meetings, representatives from the two agencies will discuss recommendations made by the National Academy […] By Sydney Boles Feb 5 Health Scientists, Mine Safety Officials Discuss Black Lung Protections Sydney Boles
Dec 10 Energy & Environment Study Shows Surface Coal Miners Are Exposed To Toxic Dust That Causes Black Lung Appalachian surface coal miners are consistently overexposed to toxic silica dust, according to new research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and surface mine dust contains more silica than does dust in underground coal mines. The research is the first to specifically analyze long-term data on exposure to toxic silica dust for […] By Sydney Boles Dec 10 Energy & Environment Study Shows Surface Coal Miners Are Exposed To Toxic Dust That Causes Black Lung Sydney Boles
Nov 19 Energy & Environment Black Lung Trust Fund Likely Burdened by Murray Bankruptcy The recent bankruptcy of Murray Energy is likely to significantly increase the debt of a struggling federal trust fund that supports disabled miners’ health care expenses. According to court filings, Murray Energy could be responsible for as much as $155 million under the Black Lung Act and general workers’ compensation, but testimony from the Government Accountability […] By Sydney Boles Nov 19 Energy & Environment Black Lung Trust Fund Likely Burdened by Murray Bankruptcy Sydney Boles
Oct 16 Health Federal Agency to Hear Comment on Silica Dust as Black Lung Epidemic Rages The Mine Safety and Health Administration will host a public meeting Thursday as it considers action on regulating respirable silica, one of the major contributors to Appalachia’s skyrocketing rates of black lung disease. MSHA issued a request for information in response to calls for increased regulation after a 2018 investigation from NPR and PBS Frontline. […] By Sydney Boles Oct 16 Health Federal Agency to Hear Comment on Silica Dust as Black Lung Epidemic Rages Sydney Boles
Oct 13 Energy & Environment New Kentucky Memorial Honors Miners Who Died Of Black Lung Coal miners and family members of miners who have died from black lung disease gathered Sunday in Whitesburg, Kentucky, to dedicate a new memorial to miners who perished from the workplace disease. While Appalachian coal country has several memorials to mining disasters, this is believed to be the first memorial to remember the thousands of […] By Sydney Boles Oct 13 Energy & Environment New Kentucky Memorial Honors Miners Who Died Of Black Lung Sydney Boles
Jul 23 Energy & Environment As Disabled Miners Hit D.C., Lawmakers Introduce Bills To Fund Black Lung Benefits Democratic members of Congress introduced legislation Tuesday to provide additional funding for coal miners suffering from black lung. The bills came as a contingent of Appalachian miners afflicted with the disease lobbied lawmakers for more support. “It doesn’t only take your health. It takes your identity,” Barry Johnson said of the disease. Johnson is a […] By Sydney Boles Jul 23 Energy & Environment As Disabled Miners Hit D.C., Lawmakers Introduce Bills To Fund Black Lung Benefits Sydney Boles