Respiratory Conditions

Washington – The Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs has issued a final rule intended to increase protections – including full access to medical information – for coal miners who have black lung disease.

Arlington, VA – One year after a respirable coal dust rule went into effect, sampling results are showing that mines are complying with reforms and better protecting coal miners from black lung disease, the Mine Safety and Health Administration recently announced.

Silver Spring, MD – Almost one-fifth of progressive lung diseases among construction workers may be attributable to workplace exposures to vapors, gases, dusts and fumes, according to a study from the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR) and Duke University.

Washington – Although the number of silicosis deaths has declined in the past decade, the occupational lung disease still kills about 100 people every year, according to a new study from NIOSH.

Washington – A simple solution could allow construction workers to reduce their exposure to crystalline silica when cutting fiber-cement siding, according to NIOSH.

Washington – NIOSH is looking for companies that use spray polyurethane foam to participate in a study about the health effects of occupational exposure to flame retardants.

Washington – A new toolkit from OSHA and NIOSH aims to help protect health care workers from transmissible diseases and other respiratory hazards.

Washington – NIOSH will offer free, confidential health screenings to coal miners in an effort to detect black lung, a group of deadly diseases caused by breathing coal mine dust.

Arlington, VA – Coal mine dust samples taken after the Mine Safety and Health Administration implemented a rule to prevent deadly diseases known as “black lung” suggest that compliance is “highly achievable,” the agency announced April 23 during a hearing of the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee.

Atlanta – More than 15 percent of asthma cases among employed adults are work-related, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.