NIOSH to offer black lung screenings

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) said it will offer free, confidential black lung screenings to coal miners this month through a mobile testing unit at convenient community and mine locations.  

This year’s screenings will be offered in Indiana and Texas. All current and former coal miners 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.”   

Screenings will take approximately 30 minutes and will include a work history and respiratory questionnaire, chest x-ray, blood pressure screening, and a breathing test (spirometry). Each miner will be provided their results within 8-10 weeks. 

The 2023 screening locations, dates and times can be found here.

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