Fulfilling a Promise to Our Nation’s Miners

Editor's note: This post was originally published as an op-ed in The Patriot-News. Read the original on PennLive.com.

Kevin Weikle, a 34-year-old coal miner in West Virginia, began working in the mines at 18. Last year, his career came to an end. That’s because the father of four was diagnosed with an advanced stage of black lung disease and has reduced lung capacity from breathing in harmful dust at work. The disease is incurable, although he is hoping for a lung transplant.

“It never crossed my mind that I’d be like this at 34,” he said at a public hearing last summer on the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rule to limit exposure to respirable crystalline silica, known as silica dust.

At the Department of Labor, Kevin’s story – and those of other coal miners and their families in Central Pennsylvania – are our call to action. Miners like him – and the more than 11,000 miners in Pennsylvania – are the reason we announced our final rule on silica dust today, which is estimated to save more than 1,000 lives and prevent severe illness for thousands more.

It has been a long time coming for the mining community: the hazards of silica dust have been known since Frances Perkins was the secretary of labor. Miners are exposed to this toxic substance during most mining activities. Inhaling it puts them at risk for developing entirely preventable, but debilitating and potentially deadly diseases, such as silicosis, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and kidney disease. Mixed with coal dust, it can cause black lung. Frankly, it is unconscionable that our nation’s miners have worked without adequate protections from silica dust provided to workers in other industries. MSHA’s new rule brings the permissible exposure limit for miners in line with the limit for other workers at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour day.

Recent reporting has helped bring to light the number of miners being diagnosed today with black lung and other severe illnesses as a result of breathing in silica dust. Of course, this sobering news is no surprise to miners. 

During the rulemaking process, MSHA reviewed and considered testimonies delivered at three public hearings as well as 157 written comments. With significant input from miners and many other stakeholders, the requirements of the final rule include a number of measures to better safeguard miners’ health, including requirements for engineering controls and monitoring to prevent overexposure. 

Similar to current requirements for coal mines, the rule also requires metal and nonmetal mine operators to create medical surveillance programs that include periodic health examinations for miners at no cost to them. And importantly, the final rule updates respiratory protection standards to improve protection for miners against all airborne hazards – not just silica dust. 

MSHA staff are prepared to provide technical expertise and compliance assistance to mine operators so they will be ready to comply when the rule goes into effect; coal mines have 12 months and metal and nonmetal mines have 24.

Under the Mine Act, the primary responsibility for miners’ safety and health belongs to mine operators. We’re also committed to making sure miners understand their rights to a safe and healthy workplace, and that they're empowered to report hazards and to be able to exercise those rights without fear of retaliation or discrimination.

Since I came to the Department of Labor, I have asked my team to unleash our full power to protect working people, to use all the tools we have not just to conduct inspections and issue citations but to keep workers truly safe and make sure workers are heard. This is important to me. It’s important to President Biden.

MSHA has stepped up efforts protect miners’ safety and health. Monthly impact inspections are identifying and eliminating hazards that can cost miners their lives. The agency’s “Take Time, Save Lives” campaign helps educate miners and mine operators on preventing accidents through proper training and precautionary measures, such as attaching a harness or ensuring machinery is locked out. In addition, MSHA’s Part 90 initiative is helping coal miners exercise their rights under the Mine Act to work in a less dusty and healthier section of the mine. MSHA also sends out targeted safety and health alerts through its Miner Safety and Health App and other channels. And just last month, the agency launched a new Health Resource Locator Tool that makes it easier for miners to access the health care they need.

We are unleashing our power to make sure every miner can come home safe and healthy at the end of every workday, and to lift up the voices and the people who have gone unheard and unseen for far too long.

Julie Su is the acting secretary of labor. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.