DOL Watchdog Calls for Rule to Lower Silica Levels in Coal Mines

Coal miners face continuing health dangers because the federal agency responsible for mine safety hasn’t enacted a rule to specifically protect them from carcinogenic silica dust, the Labor Department’s watchdog said in a new report.

While the Office of Inspector General found that levels of airborne silica inside mines have decreased significantly as part of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s wider effort to reduce coal dust, the lack of a silica rule means the agency can’t penalize companies that exceed a silica limit set 51 years ago.

“Given the ongoing risk to miners’ health from exposure to silica, ...