Rise in Cases and Claims
Rates of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease, have reached their highest level since 1978. Findings released by NIOSH in August 2026 show that 32% of veteran underground coal miners in Central Appalachia have the disease, up 12% since 2018. This increase in illness is reflected in workers' compensation figures. U.S. Department of Labor data indicate that federal black lung claims in Kentucky rose steadily from 3,956 in 2013 to 4,776 in 2024, before dipping slightly to 4,734 last year. Benefits paid also grew steadily, topping $46 million last year.
Regulatory and Industry Context
A report from Reimagine Appalachia and the Appalachian Citizens' Law Center states that federal protections and compensation have not kept pace with the epidemic. The research points to regulatory rollbacks and staff reductions at safety agencies, including the Mine Safety and Health Administration and NIOSH, alongside the Trump administration's broader push to support domestic coal production to meet rising energy demands. Industry representatives and labor leaders note that miners are having to extract more rock to reach depleted coal reserves, exposing them to higher levels of toxic silica dust.