Connie Cline, in his 50s is finding it difficult to go ahead with his life. His condition is so bad that even walking a few yards leaves him wheezing and winded and the credit goes to black lung disease also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) or anthracosis. The deadly disease embraced him when he used to work at the blasting coalmines in West Virginia. However, Connie Cline is not the only one bearing the brunt but there are many coalmine workers like him round the world going on with this disease. Actually, black lung disease is the outcome that springs out due to over exposure to coal dust, which traps in the lungs. Exposing the unhealthy working condition of such coalmines Connie Cline avers, ‘The dust was so thick sometimes you couldn’t see your hand in front of you, even with your light.’ By reading this statement of Connie Cline, would you hang back from calling it a suicide job?
Major problem
In the recent years, the problem of black lung disease has exacerbated desperately round the world, especially in the states like Kentucky, West Virginia, and Wyoming of US, which are known to have large number of coalmines. I fear that the problem of black lung disease will go on taking uglier look, because with more and more industrialization it is quite certain that demand of coal for more energy will soar higher and higher continuously.
Black lung disease is holding up its head like an unbeatable enemy. And I think, it is all because there is no cure for this repulsive disease; only prevention can help, which is also not getting proper attention of those who can do something to reduce its severity. Here I am talking about coal barons who are piling up money fast, leaving coalminers to bear the bad implications of coal dust. No doubt, coal gives the world’s economy the necessary boost however, we should also not throw back the interests of these coalminers in the coal dust while seeing this world marching ahead.
Solution
Now the question emerges that what can be the solution to this problem. Here I would like to say that it should be made mandatory for the coal barons to provide coalminers with personal dust monitoring devices that measure the dust level in mines, which a big percentage of coalminers are not provided with. Secondly, health and safety regulations should be imposed as soon as possible in order to prevent the escalation of black lung disease cases. Thirdly, we should try to turn ourselves towards other sources or energy, especially towards renewable energy options. Fourthly, and most importantly, it should be made sure that coalminers are getting proper medication to check the disease. By bringing these few but important suggestions, I am sure that we can help thousands of coalminers like Connie Cline.
Via: washingtonpost