Abstract
Following passage of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, underground coal mine operators were required to take air samples in order to monitor compliance with the exposure limit for respirable dust, a task essential for the prevention of pneumoconiosis among coal workers. Miners objected, claiming that having the mine operators perform this task was like "having the fox guard the chicken coop." This article is a historical narrative of mining industry corruption and of efforts to reform the program of monitoring exposure to coal mine dust. Several important themes common to the practice of occupational health are illustrated; most prominently, that employers should not be expected to regulate themselves.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Air Pollutants, Occupational / adverse effects
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Air Pollutants, Occupational / analysis*
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Coal / adverse effects
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Coal / analysis
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Coal Mining / ethics
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Coal Mining / legislation & jurisprudence*
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Conflict of Interest
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Consumer Advocacy / legislation & jurisprudence
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Dust / analysis
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Environmental Monitoring / legislation & jurisprudence*
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Environmental Monitoring / methods
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Environmental Monitoring / standards
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Fraud / legislation & jurisprudence
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Humans
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Labor Unions
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Maximum Allowable Concentration
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Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
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Occupational Exposure / analysis*
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Occupational Exposure / legislation & jurisprudence
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Pneumoconiosis / diagnosis
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Pneumoconiosis / economics
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Pneumoconiosis / prevention & control
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United States
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Workers' Compensation / legislation & jurisprudence
Substances
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Air Pollutants, Occupational
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Coal
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Dust