Estimation of the Risk of Contracting Pneumoconiosis in the UK Coal Mining Industry

Abstract

This paper discusses the impact that proposed new regulations for respirable dust in UK coal mines could have on the risk of contracting pneumoconiosis in the UK coal industry. The risk of contracting pneumoconiosis is primarily a function of cumulative exposure to coal mine dust. Since the current dust regulations were introduced in the 1970s the average concentrations of dust to which miners are exposed have decreased considerably. However, working hours have increased in the last few years, leading to concerns of a potential upturn in the risk of contracting pneumoconiosis. The new regulations under discussion address the problem of excessive hours through scaling the limit values when long hours are worked. Hence, by controlling cumulative dust exposures to values below those currently encountered, the proposed new regulations are shown to lead to lower lifetime pneumoconiosis risk when compared with current conditions.