Cinnaminson, NJ, March 25
th , 2020
In late January, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced the release of a new video on black lung disease among coal miners.
Faces of Black Lung II – The Story Continues is a follow-up to the first
Faces of Black Lung video, produced over ten years ago. It leads viewers through a short history lesson on miner protections, beginning with the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the establishment of NIOSH’s Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP).
The video also shares stories of three young miners, in their own words, who are experiencing the severity of the disease and are confined to their homes. The miners are in their 30s and 40s, much younger than the workers who were in their 50s that appeared in the first video.
“Prolonged exposure to respirable coal dust can cause lung diseases, such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis, emphysema and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF),” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “These diseases, collectively referred to as black lung, can lead to permanent disability and even death. Although some miners never develop the disease, others may develop early signs after less than a decade of mining. The new NIOSH video is meant to raise awareness so that respiratory diseases caused by coal dust can be prevented, or at least caught early, so these lung diseases do not progress.”
To keep companies in compliance with existing health and safety regulations, EMSL Analytical, Inc. offers industrial hygiene and environmental testing for coal, crystalline silica and other respirable dusts frequently associated with mining, construction and other industries. With laboratories across North America, EMSL provides all of the sampling supplies necessary, real-time air monitoring instruments and also carries a comprehensive line of personal protective equipment (PPE). Several years back, the company even sponsored an educational video about coal dust exposure and black lung disease that can be seen at:
https://youtu.be/mylbjpYXYj8.
To learn more about coal and respirable dust testing or other occupational, environmental, health and safety services, or for access to PPE and air monitoring instruments, please visit
www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email
info@EMSL.com.
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 46 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-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC 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.