Fourth Circuit Awards Black Lung Benefits to Widow After 17-Year Struggle (Collins v. Pond Creek Mining)
On May 1, 2014, in Collins v. Pond Creek Mining (decision here) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit awarded black lung benefits to…
Fourth Circuit Summarily Affirms Miner’s Black Lung Benefits Award (West Virginia CWP Fund v. Matlick)
On April 29, 2014, in West Virginia CWP Fund v. Matlick (decision here) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit summarily affirmed a disabled…
Medical Study of Pakistani Coal Miners Reports 71% Have Respiratory Health Problems, 49.5% Have Pneumoconiosis
The Pakistani medical journal Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute has published a study of Pakistani miners in Cherat, Nowshera District. The study titled “Prevalence of Pneumoconiosis…
MSHA Announces Final Coal Dust Rule
For the first time since 1972, the Department of Labor has passed new respirable coal dust standards for U.S. coal mines. The updated limit, which was originally proposed…
Department of Labor Issues Final Rule for Standardizing Digital X-Rays in Black Lung Claims
The Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) has issued a final rule regarding the submission of digital radiographs in federal Black Lung claims.…
Fourth Circuit Rejects Company’s Arguments Regarding Rebuttal Standards (West Virginia CWP Fund v. Gump)
Today in West Virginia CWP Fund v. Gump, (decision here), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a miner’s award of black lung…
Fourth Circuit Summarily Affirms Miner’s Award of Black Lung Benefits (Mud Lick Mining Corp. v. Hash)
On April 11, 2014, in Mud Lick Mining Corp. v. Hash (decision here) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit summarily affirmed a disabled…
GAO Report Agrees with Using Science, National Approach to Reduce Coal Mine Dust Exposure
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on MSHA’s proposal to lower the exposure limit for respirable coal mine dust. The report,…
NIOSH Announces Free Black Lung Screenings in Southwest U.S.
Beginning this month the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (“NIOSH”) is traveling from Louisiana to Arizona to provide coal miners with free, confidential screenings…
Ninth Circuit Holds ALJs Can Use the Regulatory Preamble in Weighing Medical Evidence (Peabody Coal Co. v. Director, OWCP)
Yesterday in Peabody Coal Co. v. Director, OWCP (decision here), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a miner’s award of federal black…