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Respiratory health services reported by U.S. mining facilities in the National Occupational Health Survey of Mining (1984-1989).

Linch-KD; Groce-DW; Hale-JM

Am J Ind Med 1996 Sep; 30(3):273-280

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199609)30:3%3C273::AID-AJIM4%3E3.0.CO;2-%23/abstract

00234005

The involvement of mine management personnel at mines in the United States in providing environmental and medical services related to respiratory health of miners was examined. Information was obtained via questionnaires that were administered to mine management personnel at 491 mines and mills from 1984 through 1989; questions addressed topics such as general medical services, respiratory medical examinations, industrial hygiene services, environmental monitoring programs, and personal protective health devices. Mining facilities included anthracite, bituminous, metallic, nonmetallic, sand and gravel, and stone. Sixty two percent of the workers worked at facilities that provided at least some workers with chest X-rays and 41% worked at facilities that provided some workers with pulmonary function tests. In addition, 85% worked at facilities in which the company required a medical examination of all new employees, and most were required to have a medical examination before returning to work after an illness. Only 2% of the miners were required to have an exit medical examination upon termination of their employment. The authors conclude that provision of respiratory health services may play an important role in decreasing the risk of occupational lung disease in the mining industry.

NIOSH-Author; Mining-industry; Occupational-health; Medical-services; Underground-miners; Industrial-hygiene; Medical-screening; Occupational-respiratory-disease; Coal-miners; Occupational-health-programs; Author Keywords: National Occupational Health Survey of Mining; occupational lung disease; mining health surveillance; PFTs; industrial hygiene services

Kenneth Linch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 265052888

AJIMD8

19960901

Journal Article

1996

3

0271-3586

DRDS

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

WV