NIOSH Offers Health Screening for Black Lung Disease in Miners

In early March, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced it would offer a series of free, confidential health screenings to coal miners as part of the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP). The screenings are intended to provide early detection of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), also known as black lung, a serious but preventable occupational lung disease caused by breathing respirable coal mine dust.

NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D., stated, “If black lung is caught early, steps can be taken to help prevent it from progressing to the most serious forms of the disease. The NIOSH surveillance program provides both underground and surface miners with confidential screenings that can enable and motivate action towards reducing their exposure to coal dust"

Also working to protect miners from exposure hazards to respirable coal mine dust are the scientists at EMSL Analytical, Inc. The company offers comprehensive industrial hygiene and environmental testing services, sampling supplies, air monitoring instruments and personal protective equipment (PPE).

“Tragically, there is no cure for the damage that coal dust does to a miner’s lungs so preventing black lung needs to be among the highest health and safety priorities for the industry,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “At EMSL, we provide gravimetric dust and silica analyses to test for respirable dusts to help identify occupational exposure risks. We also offer particle counters and other air monitoring equipment for use in the field. Information from testing and monitoring activities can save lives and is instrumental for helping to ensure that mine operators comply with current respirable coal mine dust exposure limits at both underground and surface mines.” 

EMSL has sponsored an educational video about coal dust exposure and black lung disease that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/HuteK67CJ8k.

To learn more about coal and respirable dust testing or other occupational, environmental, health and safety services and products, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com .
 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical, Inc. is one of the leading testing laboratories with 44 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations.  In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail