I file this one under memories are short, and dust masks are a pain in the arse. Sure labour laws are wanting for your Appalachian thin seam coal miner, but the union strong Australian industry had had a similar revelation, albeit with reportable cases in the tens, not thousands).
Dust masks are totally effective. The main problem is convincing miners to wear them, all shift, in the heat, and the humidity. The only effective motivator I've seen for the industry are miners getting sick.
In my fifteen years of underground coal I've seen it go from crews where none wore dust masks, to everyone wears them, and it's not like black lung or silicosis are new to mining. And what's interesting is most wear them purely out of self concern, the minority due to workplace health and safety rules.
Dust masks are totally effective. The main problem is convincing miners to wear them, all shift, in the heat, and the humidity. The only effective motivator I've seen for the industry are miners getting sick.
In my fifteen years of underground coal I've seen it go from crews where none wore dust masks, to everyone wears them, and it's not like black lung or silicosis are new to mining. And what's interesting is most wear them purely out of self concern, the minority due to workplace health and safety rules.