Posts Tagged ‘silica dust’
Trump administration to reconsider black lung protection rule, costing more miners’ lives
The rule should have gone into effect to start protecting workers last April, but in a filing Wednesday, the administration said it is starting a new, “limited” rulemaking.
Read MoreCoal miners, advocates rally in Washington, D.C. to protest attacks on black lung and miner protections
Today, more than 80 coal miners, members of Black Lung Associations, and other supporters rallied outside of the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C., to protest the delay in implementing long-awaited silica dust protections for coal miners, along with funding and staffing cuts to mine safety and research.
Read MoreMore coal miner lives in jeopardy as silica safeguard delayed yet again
Measures that prevent deadly silica dust exposure among coal miners are indefinitely delayed, as coal industry lawyers and the Trump Administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration reportedly continue to negotiate a settlement to the industry’s case to block safeguards that were initially scheduled to come into effect on April 14.
Read MoreHouse committee advances reckless bill that blocks life-saving silica standard
Today, the House Appropriations Committee approved a dangerous appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Among other disastrous provisions, the bill would block funding for the recently finalized rule to protect miners from silica dust
Read MoreBiden Admin Finalizes Silica Rule Update
A new federal rule would cut miners’ exposure to silica dust, but miners and their advocates have concerns about whether industry will follow the new rule under the current enforcement mechanisms.
Read MoreRule to protect miners from silica falls short
In April, the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced the final version of a rule meant to protect coal miners from respirable silica. The announcement was a long time coming.
Read MoreAppalachian Voices sees a missed opportunity with new rule to protect miners from black lung disease
Yesterday the Biden administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that it finalized a rule to protect miners from respirable silica — a significant driver of the resurgence of black lung disease in Central Appalachia.
Read MoreMiners, advocates voice their concerns about MSHA’s proposed silica rule
Coal miners and black lung advocates filled several back rows of the auditorium at the Mine Safety and Health Administration Academy just outside of Beckley, West Virginia, on the morning of Aug. 10th to provide comments on the agency’s draft rule to protect miners from respirable silica dust.
Read MoreMiners, advocates speak out during silica rule hearing
During a public hearing held today in Beckley, West Virginia, a number of coal miners and advocates spoke out in support of strengthened silica dust exposure standards proposed by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration in response to an epidemic of new black lung cases among coal miners while highlighting areas where the proposed rule could be improved.
Read MoreNew Draft Safety Standard for Exposure to Silica Dust
The Mine Safety and Health Administration’s proposed new regulations would reduce worker exposure to silica dust, but advocates say better enforcement measures are needed.
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