OAK HILL, W.Va. — Respiratory therapist Lisa Emery connects intimately with the miners who come through her clinic, knowing their names, ages, and heartbreaking stories of struggle against black lung disease. Particularly alarming is the rising number of younger miners seeking care, some as young as their 30s, presenting symptoms typically associated with older workers.
Emery directs the New River Health Association Black Lung Clinic, where she has witnessed a sharp rise in black lung cases due to evolving mining practices and the introduction of silica dust, which is more toxic than coal dust. A new federal rule designed to cut the permissible silica exposure in half reflects some progress in worker protection, yet it is now threatened by political pushbacks and industry resistance.
With lawmakers focused on rolling back health and safety regulations, many miners are left vulnerable to diseases that have historically plagued the industry. The response from former miners has been fierce, calling on the Trump administration to honor promises made to protect their livelihoods and health. “Every single one of you that sits down in that chair is why I feel like I was put on this earth,” Emery says, emphasizing her connection to the coal-mining community.
The backdrop is a community steeped in a legacy of struggle and sacrifice, where many miners face reduced workplace protections due to new policies. Their health is increasingly jeopardized as industries lobby against stricter regulations, further complicating an already dire health crisis.
In 2023, not only did West Virginia miners experience rising cases of black lung, but the state's overall worker death rate surged, emphasizing the need for immediate attention to safety regulations and support for those in perilous professions.
The collective anger from miners and their families has sparked protests for health protections, as they continue to fight for their rights amid political changes that threaten to weaken the precarious structure of their health and safety regulations.
