Black Lung Disease All lung diseases associated with

Black Lung Disease • All lung diseases associated with chronic overexposure to coal dust – Chronic Bronchitis – Silicosis – Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis • Chronic disease • Fibrosis of the lung • Range from simple to progressive disease Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Black Lung Cases • 1968 to 1992 – 60, 000 workers died of black lung and related complications • January 1992 to June 1997 – 1, 914 reported cases of black lung Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Black Lung Cases by Occupation (January 92 to June 97) OCCUPATION NUMBER Laborer/Utility Man/Bullgang Mechanic/Repairman/Helper Roof Bolter/Helper 304 183 154 Continuous Miner Operator/Helper 136 Supervisor/Management/Foreman Shuttle Car/Tram Operator 133 113 Belt/Conveyor Man/Crew 101 Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Black Lung Cases by Occupation (January 92 to June 97) OCCUPATION NUMBER Electrician/Helper/Wireman 93 Bulldozer/Tractor Operator 59 Truck Driver 56 Scoop Car/Tram/Load Haul Dump Operator 51 Longwall Jacksetter/Swamper/Snaker/ Operator/Helper Other 35 Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines 486

Federal Black Lung Program Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis • Symptoms – – – – Shortness of breath Coughing Pain during breathing Night sweats Weight loss Chest pain Enlarged heart/heart failure • May result in permanent disability and early death Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Stages of CWP • Simple CWP – Miner may not seem sick – Can still work and do most normal activities • Complicated CWP – Scar tissue develops – Also called progressive massive fibrosis – Considered permanent disability Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

CWP: Number of Deaths, Crude and Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates (1968 -1996) Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

CWP: Crude Mortality Rates by State (1987 -1996) Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

CWP: Number of Deaths by State (1987 -1996) States with rates > 10 deaths/million Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Number of Deaths CWP: Number of Deaths by Age (1987 -1996) Total Deaths = 18, 245 Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

CWP: Most Frequently Recorded Occupations (1987 -1996) Occupation Number Percent Mining Machine Operators 3, 811 70. 0 Laborers, not construction 172 3. 2 Managers/Administrators 73 1. 3 Truck Drivers 66 1. 2 Janitors/Cleaners 59 1. 1 Electricians 55 1. 0 Construction Laborers 52 1. 0 Carpenters 46 0. 8 Machine Operators 46 0. 8 Farmers 45 0. 8 All other occupations 801 14. 7 Occupation not reported 221 4. 1 Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Percentage of Examined Miners with CWP by Tenure in Mining (1970 -1996) Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

CWP: Estimated Number of Actively Employed Underground Coal Miners and Number Examined (1970 -1996) Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines

Number of MSHA and OSHA Inspector Coal Mine Dust Samples and Percent Exceeding the PEL (1970 -1996) Western Mining Resource Center Colorado School of Mines