NIOSH Announces Free, Confidential Black Lung Screenings for Coal Miners

Contact: Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program, 1-888-480-4042, CWHSP@cdc.gov

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will offer free, confidential black lung screenings to coal miners in April 2023. The screenings support early detection of black lung disease, a serious but preventable disease in coal miners caused by breathing coal mine dust.

NIOSH provides screenings through a mobile testing unit at convenient community and mine locations. This year’s screenings will be offered in Indiana and Texas. All coal miners (current, former, underground, surface, and those under contract) are encouraged to participate.

“If black lung is caught early, steps can be taken to help prevent it from progressing to the most serious forms of the disease,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “The NIOSH mobile unit provides underground, surface and contract miners with confidential screenings that can support next steps in reducing their exposure to coal dust.”

Participation provides coal miners with a free screening and a confidential report on their lung health.

Screenings will take approximately 30 minutes and will include:

• A work history and respiratory questionnaire
• A chest x-ray
• Blood pressure screening
• A breathing test (spirometry)

Screenings are confidential by law. Each miner will be provided their results within 8-10 weeks from their screening appointment. Appointments are recommended but walks-ins are welcome.

Screening locations, dates, and times will be posted on the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) webpage, and NIOSH Facebook. Local and individual outreach will be done in all specific locations.

NIOSH is the federal institute that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths. Find more information about NIOSH at www.cdc.gov/niosh.