PIPESTEM, WV (WVNS) — More than 10,000 people were employed as miners in the state of West Virginia as of 2022 according to Statista.com. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says that 10% of these miners currently have black lung and they are seeing more cases every year.
Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis, more commonly known as Black Lung Disease, occurs when coal dust is inhaled. The dust scars the lungs and impairs the ability to breathe.
Currently, there is no treatment that can reverse the damage done by this disease. That is why NIOSH encourages those in the mining industry to get screened for black lung.
Christopher Parker, Field and Outreach Coordinator for NIOSH, encouraged workers near Pipestem State Park to come to their mobile unit for a check-up.
“We wanted to let all the coal miners in the area know where we are and how they can come and get their screenings,” said Parker. “Screenings are free and they are confidential, so that only that coal miner knows their results.”
Those results are incredibly important. The earlier you get screened, the quicker you can begin taking control of your diagnosis.
Parker said if your screen comes back clearly, they can still recommend preventative measures to help you avoid the disease. If there is a chance you may have black lung, they can recommend clinics that can help you start treatment right away.
Brenda Ellis is a retired coal miner living with Black Lung Disease. She encouraged women especially to get screened.
“We had a lot of women that worked at US Steel when I worked there and I think they just give up,” said Ellis. “But they need to get their butt out and try to get on something because I know that I can’t breathe. Lot of them have like 36 years in the mines – you know they got something.”
Ellis said she knows she is dying, but that if she can encourage more women to get help, she will spend her time doing just that.
Judy Riffe, Financial Secretary for the Wyoming County Black Lung Association, lost her husband to the disease.
She hopes that some of these miners will reach out to the organization to receive help – especially where the benefits are involved.
“We all just encourage them and we encourage them to come in a fight for these rights. A lot of them, they done it and they get turned down, they get discouraged, and they just say, ‘there ain’t no use,’ but I tell them, ‘as long as you’re living, fight for it,’” said Riffe.
The NIOSH mobile unit will be a Pipestem State Park at the McKeever Lodge until Thursday, June 6th. The unit is open from 8A.M. until 4P.M.
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are advised. To schedule your appointment, please call 1 (888) 480-4042 or email cwhsp@cdc.gov.
Read More: Free black lung screenings offered at Pipestem State Park