Young coal miners suffering from black lung

[@carbonforms]

‘Silica dust’ sounds so benign. It’s micro glass shards.

[@alexthompson9516]

Well, it's basically sand.

[@ArizonaSquatch]

@alexthompson9516 and what is sand mister science?

[@alexthompson9516]

@@ArizonaSquatch I'm not disagreeing with this person, I'm just offering another horrifying example of why you shouldn't breathe silica dust.

[@L.Spencer]

Is that similar to what they use to make quartzite countertops?

[@alexthompson9516]

@@L.Spencer Yeah

[@Monika-mh2je]

Coal companies not protecting the workers, tell us something new. The money they put in politicans pocket should be spent on safety equipment. 😡

[@julierogers1155]

Nothing "NEW" about coal companies abusing, not protecting, the workers.

[@StardropSmoothie]

That's what I was thinking, they should have scrubbers running and PPE like half-face respirators. Even really small shops have a scrubber and masks. Seems like they are just not providing them with the proper equipment, and OSHA is just pissing in the wind without any real consequences being handed down.

[@solomongrundy3411]

Nothing new. Just forced to see reality.

[@Monika-mh2je]

@@solomongrundy3411 yes, and there are people,whose still belive the coal mine is the future .😕

[@Amoogus]

​@@Monika-mh2jethey must be drinking the coal mine waste water lol.

[@lynnyhen]

My grandfather was a coal miner and the father of four girls and two sons. He did not want his sons to follow in his footsteps and forbade them from working in the mines. He died in his early 60s from complications of Black Lung disease. My father and uncle had successful lives outside the industry and lived into their eighties. God bless every single coal miner, past and present.

[@TommyTomTompkins]

Lotta soot grit grime and gristle

[@PhilHaddad]

Absolutely impeccable journalism on a very sad situation.

[@ronlacker326]

You’re the type that is spoon fed your information about the world from CNN

[@firstlast8258]

​@ronlacker326 speak for yourself 🙄 🖕

[@ArizonaSquatch]

@ronlacker326 🤡. You get your news from X and the untruthful platform.

[@brynwest4495]

@@ronlacker326 Shut up ron

[@ronlacker326]

@@brynwest4495 You wandered off from your gulag. Back behind the wall. 🤣

[@taniadolphy5122]

How can we contact this young man (Kevin) suffering from black lung disease? His wife left him, and his children moved out. He's all alone😢. We'd like to send him a letter/ card expressing our love and hope for him. If this is possible, we'd greatly appreciate it ❤. I am broken hearted 💔.

[@verican68]

It's such a shame. I hope this young man gets the help he needs and others as well, 🙏

[@kyleebrock]

Health care is not a right for reasons some vote for.

[@edwinpadilla856]

This was the most depressing messed up ending for that man, work so hard to provide, broke himself doing it, and the wife leaves him while he is battles for his life.

[@ThriftyCHNR]

But the people in Appalachia vote for the party that wants to remove/lessen regulations???

[@tomy.1846]

Exactly, the quick money is deadly.

[@SilentCheechGaming1991]

No, the vote for the party that doesn't want to end their livelihood. Dems want to put coal miners our of work and on government benefits

[@ccutehoney]

Lack of proper education. It’s always easy to trick the uneducated

[@beardeddragon9255]

This is why I tell them that they are the one's eating their own foot, not people like myself who want to ditch coal. There are so many opportunities for these people but they keep their heads in the sand.

[@WmJ-x7j]

"Good, clean coal..." - Donald Trump

[@tomy.1846]

And fewer regulations! I remember the saying that regulations are written in blood. Sad.

[@aross924]

And they eat it up.

[@e.c-s8611]

No surprise companies and lobbyists win out. Politicians are unpopular who want to address many of these problems. People sell themselves out for this stuff. Sad. Maybe vote for CLEAN FUEL.

[@ILovePancakes24]

There's no technological shortcut to getting out of this mess. It just buys time at best.

[@caperwild]

My attorney husband represented coal miners with black lung who were denied benefits for 40 years. The coal companies fought every claim tooth and nail but my husband won most of them for the miners thank goodness.

[@TommyTomTompkins]

For goodness sake

[@guest6423]

The cost to the workers and the planet far exceeds what it would cost to support every current coal mine worker. We refuse to abandon coal because the coal companies give millions to politicians to keep it alive. If the human and environmental costs of coal was added to its price, nobody would use it, because it would be the most expensive form of energy anywhere.

[@philipfrancis2728]

100%

[@blightedgrounds]

Remember that time when the coal miners held a strike because they couldn't even afford milk & food, then the government send in the National Guard to gun them all down, then downplayed it & tried to erase it from history? Pepperidge Farm remembers

[@chevyhawk406]

This is absolutely heartbreaking 🖤

[@debrahange8209]

It killed my Grandfather after suffocating him for 21 years. He weighed 70 lbs.

[@LR-mh8hs]

American corporate profits always come first. We think we're voting for a president but we are really voting for a king, and his name is Greed.

[@waltgodsoe9111]

Such a beautiful community and facing the devastation. Protect the workers.

[@GrandmaBev64]

A KZbin guy went to film this and he was threatened and driven out of town

[@stone1andonly]

As a native of West Virginia, it is upsetting to see so many younger men contracting black lung. I have long been of the opinion that WV is long overdue for an overhaul economically and a transition to an economy that embraces new industries and a greater focus on education in schools to give younger people more opportunities to advance and further their educational opportunities. Sadly, WV has long been ruled by the interests of coal magnates, which is manifest today in who currently occupies key political offices - Governor Jim Justice and US Senator Joe Manchin both own energy companies that primarily deal with coal and coal-based products. To say that the control of the state by mining interests probably existed before 1863 (the year of WV's statehood, which occurred on June 20th, a few weeks prior to Gettysburg) would not be an exaggeration, and it has had a hand in hand corrupt relationship with political leadership from the start. WV is generally in the top 5 of the least healthy states in the country, top 5 cancer rates in the country, and has long attracted out of state businesses who are only interested in cheap labor. Even in times where the economic climate in the rest of the country is positive, WV exists in a state of constant economic depression. Nowhere else in the country so dramatically depicts the division between rich and poor as my home county of Greenbrier County, home to the internationally renowned Greenbrier Resort (owned, incidentally, by the aforementioned Gov. Jim Justice.) Within only a few miles of that resort, you can easily find some of the worst poverty you could ever imagine. Now that Manchin is retiring from the Senate, I can only hope that voters in my old district can elect someone who truly represents their interests - and helps to maintain the Democratic majority in the Senate, which has traditionally been more active in passing legislation that holds the coal industry accountable.

[@EricaGamet]

I have often wished for progress in the energy sector to come to areas like this. So many hard-working folks who just want to better themselves, but politicians and mining companies keep it so mining appears to be the only choice. You nailed it with the cheap labor comment... that's all they see these people as. My heart is broken for this young man, losing everything. I could easily see him working just as hard installing or building solar panels, or working on windmills, or in some other way being a part of green energy. And that's just me assuming his education isn't as advanced as to be an engineer or whatever (just based on the fact he went right to work from HS). But with better opportunities and a move away from coal, these people could transition to a similar type field, but one that is safer at least. Corporate greed will probably still be an issue, as it is everywhere these days.

[@kathrynw6373]

I didn't want to watch something depressing on a Sunday morning. But 'glad (for the lack of better wording) that I did because of Kevin and his story. "Look at stuff different ... live for instead of just yourself (stuff) ... when my son was born (was the difference)"; reason for life. This which too many in big business, politics don't comprehend even though they're representing us all, influencing boundaries for our society. Even though we have choice, even as we have choice, God bless him, his family and all others involved.

[@williammain5170]

Yeah, and Joe Manchin is laughing all the way to the bank.

[@TheSouthernMensch]

Cha-Ching

[@dominey]

Bless these workers. People deserve better. Kudos to Sunday Morning for covering this.

[@Dee-ye2dk]

The same with most blue collar work. Best way to prevent this is with respiratory protection and disinfectant practices like firefighters do. Firefighters wash their gear and given oxygen masks. Coal miners need the same.

[@johnstaton5524]

You could provide all the PPE you can afford and alot of people won't wear it. Fact is people are stubborn. I work in the construction and the number of people refusing masks for when installing fiber glass insulation is astonishing. Same goes for the drywall industry. Companies aren't always at fault. People need to be better also.

[@Dee-ye2dk]

@@johnstaton5524 I agree with you 100% same can be said when I was in the army, dude would opt out of carrying two plates. They’d opt for front protection and have no plate covering their back.

[@Dee-ye2dk]

@@johnstaton5524 I hear you on the X-ray wall industry. Kills me to see dudes dying so recklessly. I don’t mess around when it comes to home repair. Mask up, got a vacuum going for the dust, and I clean soon as I’m done.

[@Aka.Aka.]

​@@johnstaton5524but the point is they DON'T provide the ppe, there's no option for the employees!

[@larrysouthern5098]

Now this is what CBS Sunday Morning should be doing more of... Raw real down to earth reporting... Bravo...do more of this...

[@miss3meow]

I love this interviewer! Good prompts, lets people finish their thoughts, great voice. Seems to understand the issue and regional history well.

[@vc27r]

Ted Koppel is a journalism legend in America!

[@johnnysun6495]

This brings me back to the 90s. Like a classic Ted Koppel report.

[@ArizonaSquatch]

This has been going on for 100+ years. You'd think these people would look for other jobs by now.

[@justayoutuber1906]

Trump is laughing at these "suckers." They were so against Obamacare, now they need the Affordable Care Act and they get nothing - Good Day Sir!

[@frosting6439]

Do respirators or some type of protection while working, prevent black lung? So heartbreaking

[@Crismodin]

They do but American companies generally don't provide the same level of protections for their miners as say miners in an EU country. American miners suffer significantly higher rates of black lung and various cancers from this line of work. The EU coal miners enjoy stronger union protections, the EU has stronger enforcement and regulatory power while the USA favors minimal regulation to no regulation. The same goes for our regulatory power here in the USA, it continually gets weakened over time, not stronger. Americans have been brainwashed to believe that lesser protections = more money for them, however that is rarely the case in any industry in this country.

[@susannpatton2893]

They do. Doesn't work apparently, the guy said it's a finer dust. Goes threw the apparatus or this guy wouldn't be where he is at 35

[@Crismodin]

@@susannpatton2893 Respirators work, it's a combination of protections together, the USA has some of the weakest coal miner protections out of most first world developed nations - highlighting those in the EU. Generally, US miners have a ventilation system, that's it, nothing else. The ventilation system is for the mine, they generally don't provide respirators nor do they use other dust suppression systems, because they are not required to do so and they cite cost as the reason they don't. There are very few mining companies in the USA that provide respirators along with a good ventilation system and dust suppression system, extremely rare.

[@aguerra1381]

All the inspector has to do is check the air quality! Also make respirators and full time cameras mandatory.

[@sageallure]

These are the type of people who oppose wearing masks during a global pandemic and don't want "the government" telling them what to do. Do you honestly think they'll adhere to respirators and full-time cameras?

[@xiaoka]

Don’t worry. Donald Trump promised to bring back those coal jobs. The voters of WV and KY decided that’s what they wanted.

[@aross924]

So true. They vote for this.

[@JacobsNews]

​@@aross924yeah it's so weird that they're voting for jobs😂 in a place that doesn't have many jobs😂 I have no idea why they would vote for jobs😂 they should be like California and everybody just lives in the tent then they don't need jobs

[@Erin-rg3dw]

Not defending it but more so pointing out that coal jobs are often the only decent jobs in these areas. Driving through coal country, there's not a lot of other economic opportunities, so people voting to keep coal in their area is voting to keep themselves employed. It's no different than mill towns that disappeared when mills closed.

[@aross924]

@@Erin-rg3dw very true.

[@xiaoka]

@@JacobsNews they’re not voting for jobs, they’re voting specifically for those jobs. Hillary offered training for other jobs. They didn’t want that. They bought Trump’s scam.

[@JerbPa]

In the end, he gave up his health and life for an F-250 Diesel but had no real understanding that was the bargain he was making. This is what dramatic wealth inequality looks like and does to people.

[@E_Static]

Wondering how many years of his life was that F250 worth?

[@chilogutierrez695]

No he gave his life to provide for his family. And a high middle class job at that. We need legislation that once a miner is diagnosed with black lung they can retire for the rest of their life and the oil company must compensate them with full health benefits and a salary

[@pattayaman54]

I feel sorry for Kevin and the many others around the World just like him, I myself as a young man in the North of England started work underground in the Coal mines aged 15, I spent more than 30 Years in winning coal and drifting (tunneling) through rock shaft sinking with drill and firing methods, and mechanised machinery that cost millions of Dollars, black lung has been around for generations and all my lifetime at least we knew we must wear correctly fitted respirators of the correct type. Also every coal worker underground must ensure the ventilation as such is sufficient to remove dust and mine gasses like methane. Fortunately I have escaped black lung and silicosis. My father, grandfather and all generations before me all became (dusted) to some degree. I spent most of my Years underground in Australia too. To all the young miners it is your responsibility to wear correct respirators and ensure dust suppression systems are working correctly, if you feel a Gravelametric dust sampling device is in the wrong location, tell someone. Your future is in your hands. In Australia now we have a new wave of silicosis in young men who are badly damaged due to silicosis and inhaling silica created when fitting and cutting new man made stone benchtops in new kitchens. Man made benchtops are now banned from use throughout Australia. Thinking of all Coal miners, from a 70 Year old ex mine worker and Coalmine Deputy.

[@ccutehoney]

The big difference is that these people vote in the politicians that are doing this to them. They always vote for the party that gives crap about them and removes regulations and support. It’s their own fault that they are in this situation. I feel no pity

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

Well, duh. Is this news to anyone?

[@timwhite7127]

As long as there's a buck to be made corporate america will gladly make the sacrifice of some workforce for the good of the company...

[@heirloomcottagedesigns9063]

Coal companies could care less, I can promise you that!

[@firstlast8258]

Unless it's voting time 🤓 🖕

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

“Couldn’t “ care less I believe you mean.

[@heirloomcottagedesigns9063]

@@lorettanericcio-bohlman567 Yeah, had coal miners in my family. Those companies are evil…

[@anthonymeade7345]

So they care a little bit then?

[@kyleebrock]

Health care should be an American right!

[@phyllischaffin4052]

Both of my grandfathers were coal miners in Tennessee. Both died of cancer, but my maternal grandfather had black lung. The doctors told my mother and the rest of the family that his lungs were as hard as rocks. He was born in 1905. He started mining very young - maybe 12 or 13. He was 70 when he died.

[@JaylenPotts-zs2qw]

So sorry to hear about this. Prayers for everyone

[@LavenderLushLuxury]

Typical Capitalism, Profits BEFORE Lives

[@515ventures3]

The ending is so sad. This is about as low as a man can ever get! His health is gone, the money is gone, the wife and kids are gone! All he has is the crickets and the dog. :(

[@sageallure]

When people are unwilling to get out of their own way. I remember when Obama championed green technology and proposed retraining coal workers for clean energy jobs. Across Appalachia, they vehemently rejected it. They wanted to keep working in the mines, despite the documented health risks. Additionally, coal mines aren’t widely known for robust health insurance plans or coverage. These workers and their families subsequently become a burden on the government, needing the assistance of taxpayers. Then, the Charlatan came along and told them that he was going to reopen the mines, and they were going to mine like they’ve never mined before, and they celebrated and cheered their way to black lung. Please stop voting based on emotion, as emotions often lead us to make decisions that are not in our best interest.

[@anthonymeade7345]

They'll vote for Agent Orange again, they won't learn.

[@j.l.5935]

Coal company don't care but workers shall wear masks to prevent black dust in their lungs, why not! Damn!!

[@beardeddragon9255]

Even if proper ppe were mandated, coal miner culture is so toxic that those who wore proper ppe would be laughed at.

[@n.j.7848]

Way to support your husband in sickness and in health. How does his wife sleep at night knowing she abandoned him, took away his children and his support system? There's a place in hell......

[@mother24538]

I’m so sorry,praying for you Kevin!

[@Aaron25thinfantry]

This is nothing new, both my Grandpa’s died with black lung.

[@johnconnor210]

Seen stories on coal miners and this topic before but I like the angle they took on this. Definitely have empathy for the young coal miner with black lung and top it off he's going through a divorce mostly do financial reasons. Wish this guy the best.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Why the hell are there still miners at all? Come on... create robots to do this dangerous work. 😢

[@sageallure]

Then they'll be even more resentful because they have been replaced by technology. Another reason to be mad at "liberals".

[@gcboy16]

The robots

[@gcboy16]

We are the best robots for corporate America

[@brieb4317]

We need to move away from mining.

[@NiSE_Rafter]

Cost

[@bhagmeister]

No worries - GOP have Clean Coal! Now get back in that mine and get me my riches!

[@maclac48]

My sincere prayers are with this man as of right now. The final blow for me was the divorce, & the loss of his family. Man when it rains, it pours. 🙏🏿

[@rockhorne]

Eye opening and well reported story. Although CBS wasn’t able to field any comments from the coal mining companies about the black lung issue, I wonder what the political leaders from West Virginia would have to say about it.

[@lisamcbarron6047]

They would have squat to say about it.......because most, not all of them, but most of them are IN THE MINING COMPANY'S POCKETS!!!!! It's NOT A SECRET and has NOT been a secret for a very long, long, longgggg time!!! And it seems it will never change either.

[@rockhorne]

@@lisamcbarron6047 agreed. I’m hoping, if the story is accurate about fewer young people getting into the industry today, that the politics will change and leaders will do more to protect workers and the environment.

[@robinshankland3499]

I'm a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Nurse, in addition my great grandfather died of "black lung"... a slow horrible death. Black lung has one cause..GREED.

[@susannpatton2893]

Prayers for him. She ex knows what she is That's was very low.

[@matthewreynolds2384]

3M NIOSH respirators not supplied by employer. No surprises here.

[@mpat100]

Blessings and good health for all coal miners and those coal miners with this condition.

[@PhrontDoor]

They should have tampering, and position monitors on all of the sensors, as well as around-the-clock video footage for all mine areas. There's no reason not to have such a thing nowadays.

[@Sesj02]

This has always been an issue in the coal mining industry. My grandfather passed away from black lung back in the 80s at the age of 43. You would think that more regulation and safety features would have changed, but sadly, judging from this, it seems not

[@djjoeykmusic]

Thank you

[@lprice5583]

What a sad stories.

[@fugamantew]

Bet you an arm and a leg they will ALL vote Republican regardless their health

[@hifibeef]

Yep. Voting for their own destruction.

[@firstlast8258]

Two wings of the same dying bird 😴 🖕

[@susanh6217]

When Trump was charge in WH last time, he let WV black coat company open again, because he was promissed for his suporter

[@n.j.7848]

Trump let them down, he did absolutely nothing for the coalminers.

[@WhiskeyTango68]

President potato hasn’t changed anything with 216 coal fired power stations still in operation, that’s 16% of our total power consumption. If we cared about these people we’d be expanding our nuclear power plants since the democrats are also cutting back on natural gas. Of course that’s not taking into account the poor infrastructure for the now dying electric car industry that never had a chance.

[@anthonymeade7345]

Your sentence needs substantial work.

[@amazingman63]

So tell me again why keeping towns dependent on coal mines is a good thing? Your dad did it so you need to as well?

[@JacobsNews]

Because it's the only high to paying jobs in the area😂 why else would they want to do the job😂 it's weird that none of the comments have figured this out yet😂 I guess they think coal miners go to work for fun

[@amazingman63]

@JacobsNews so because the pay is good its the only way forward for small towns? I dont know if you know this but you can earn good money without risk of death and injury.

[@JacobsNews]

@@amazingman63 yeah that's the only way forward in those small towns. What do you think they're in some city with a lot of jobs.... this is hidden America look up Mountain Dew mouth half these kids don't even have teeth.. this is the America they hide from you kids living in Shacks with no running water

[@coyotePAC3]

Black lung killed my Grandpa - 4 decades after he left the mines. His lungs were damaged and back in the 1970's there was no effective treatment.

[@RizeeyRee32]

This is PEAK reporting 👌🏾

[@danielrandolph9170]

Want to hear more on this major issue for miners !!

[@AshleyK1985]

Something good is gonna come your way Kevin. Just keep praying you’re a hard-working man and you didn’t deserve that but God has bigger plans for you. I promise keep your head up.

[@cztober3085]

That's really sad

[@colbykinney5633]

Sad thing is they fight like hell to keep the mines open

[@Beloh99]

Noooooo........REALLY?????? its not like this was well documented over the last few centuries or anything like that

[@sk8rjenn]

It's in the air all year long around this area, people burn it in their woodburners, I can smell it in my house everytime my heater runs, I have chronic migraines and grand mal seizures, my grandfather and others in my neighborhood died of lung cancer, my mom has copd

[@nychris2258]

You gotta love these rural folk... the good ole days of coal mining and black lung disease? They insist on being nostalgic for all the worst stuff. You can almost hear them wanting to blame black lung on the libs. Can someone please explain to me why we are even mining coal at all in 2024?

[@charles9571]

Coal makes up a majority of what power companies use to make power. People in rural areas are subject to jobs available in their area. A lot of people in these areas would love to move and do something else.

[@KILLKING110]

you can't just force companies to open up shop in small towns so until jobs in these small jobs become diversified that's all these small town people will know and before you say " they can just move" that's how you get literally ghost towns and communities being killed off creating dead zones where you see warning signs for last gas station available

[@tomy.1846]

@@charles9571 Now natural gas is #1, coal is #2. Hopefully we can do better in getting away from fossil fuels!

[@danieldavid9887]

“I got the black lung pop.” - *Derek Zoolander*

[@eltamarindo]

There are also a great many young home remodeling contractors who also suffering from silicosis. --many weren't aware just how dangerous the dust was from those trendy "engineered stone countertops".

[@bigthunder7002]

I fabricated stone in a shop for a while but we were all given masks to wear and cleaned out the shop air filter often

[@eltamarindo]

@@bigthunder7002 Yes, if the standard procedures that have been used for sand blasting for decades were employed, a the premature deaths could have been avoided.

[@SamanthaStevenson76]

Omg that was so sad. Those coal companies don’t care anything about those boys. I bet trump will do something about this if he’s president. Or I hope Kamala does if she wins. We have to pray.

[@ToastBoi420]

the inspection part that every business has they always tell you that they're coming to inspect so they always have use clean up or work different, every company has done this i worked at. I curently work in a plastics recycling place in a pool barn there is only 2 exhaust fans at the end of the building where the grinders are and only semi trailer doors open for fresh air by the way its 90+ degrees in that building in the summer. Grinding up plastics i breath in that plastics dust everyday, they don't even provide proper PPE SO I PROVIDED IT MYSELF

[@MSMILLA]

😢

[@neonflashsparkotron5435]

Micah Bell is that you?

[@eddiew2325]

Yes that’s me my friend

[@carolsopinski4549]

Great info , very sad

[@BomDe_Gamesz]

Don't judge bro Van Der Linde Gang was asking for the same thing

[@kyleebrock]

Weird. Who would want this for anyone...? Time to vote.

[@LeCarlton]

You load sixteen tons and what do you get.

[@shuffleaccount1985]

let me guess the GOP wont pass the bill, it's about money not People

[@margieerwin5798]

What is the point of regulations if the government local and federal do not oversee the actions of coal mining companies against their miners. My heart goes out to these workers and their families.

[@Kaldosthesergal]

0:25 Blue ridge mountains

[@NAYR-JAUAI]

Carbon shows up pretty good on a X-Ray, but I don't think fiberglass resin shows up, because I know there's more fiberglass dust in the air when someone is grinding fiberglass in a tank, than there is coal dust in a cave, when someone mines coal. I think X-rays aren't effective for fiberglass in the lungs, because they sure never discover fiberglass in people's lungs when resin workers get there lungs checked. I think lung X-ray's aren't effective for some things.

[@sk8rjenn]

follow the money, the PA and WV DEP's i'm sure are paid off

[@ElizabethHurtado-py8ur]

Bless their hearts💰😘

[@alnibodycare]

Damn nobody quoting Zoolander. I’m surprised.

[@caseycat]

Does this mean we are officially old? Lol

[@lukesmith3283]

You’d think the coal mining companies and in general third party vendors would have already developed/made breathing apparatus technology or full suits they could give these workers to wear to help protect their lungs and internal organs. We have oxygen suits for space and deep sea but not for coal mining?

[@joekev27]

Im a union electrician and they make sure to make a point of warning us how dangerous silica dust is. Even electrician will get it from the brief time we are drilling holes in cement for some supports so they emphasize how important masks are even if your just doing some quick drilling.

[@debbiecooper1677]

born and raised there.

[@adrianvasquez254]

Why would you do this job knowing you will not have a high quality of life when you’re 50 (if you make it that far)?

[@adrianvasquez254]

That said, respect to the man at 7:41. I’m lucky to love my job, so if he’s all about it despite the risks, hey, live your life.

[@DPA373]

Glad they are helping coal minwrs in some ways but not all had both of my grandpas died from coal mining one from black lung the other in 1940 mine caved in on him .

[@MissinginMiami]

Damn! 😢

[@boomerang8909]

Come this November, the voters must decide to vote for more regulation otherwise whoever is in charge will lose state residents like Kevin's family.

[@Hhllbb2476]

I would think the molybdenum & tungsten & other metals used on the newer boring machines and the amount of dust these machines generate per man hour must be factors on top of the amount of hard rock per ton of coal excavated. Can ventilation and masking really be that big a deal? I think it’s partly the culture. Big boss man.

[@tangykombucha5558]

Why can’t they wear respirators down there?

[@Adrian-qx4ql]

There's little oxygen as there is they would have to supply oxygen tanks and respirators but with that constant movement in the mines it'd be impossible to carry a lot of weight on yourself

[@Dieselpwr]

Require respirators

[@chilogutierrez695]

We need permanent on site inspectors at all times!

[@Lynn705Hal]

I live in Appalachia. These ppl here keep voting for politicians who support coal mining, & say they'll bring it back in places it's gone from, instead of supporting politicians who could try to bring in different types of companies to work for, which does happen on occasion. It is possible. Things are not going to change unless the ppl accept that change is necessary, & change is not a word they like.

[@JacobsNews]

Like totally man 😂like they need to figure out other stuff maybe they could all become computer programmers😂😂 do we even need coal yeah it's helping power🎉 houses and Tesla cars but you know but we don't need that stuff😂

[@ChristopherSEA]

And a huge portion of this coal goes to China of all places.

[@Buttersausage]

Silica dust is still present when the air looks clear

[@carolr7823]

Did they wear their protective equipment? That is the big question.