Feds: Education, stricter enforcement, new regulations can help curb black lung in coal miners

Feds unveil strategy to curb black lung in miners

BECKLEY, W.Va. — The federal government has unveiled a new plan to combat black lung disease, an incurable ailment that has killed roughly 10,000 coal miners this decade.

Mine Safety and Health Administration director Joseph Main revealed the plan Thursday in Beckley, W.Va. Main says a three-pronged approach of education, stricter enforcement and new regulations should help reduce the spread of the disease.

In particular, the government is looking at a new device called a continuous dust monitor that miners would wear to measure their intake of coal mine dust.

Thursday’s event was the first of four presentations on the new strategy. Other events are scheduled for later this month in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky.