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Causation, Impairment, Disability: An Analysis of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Evaluations
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Causation, Impairment, Disability: An Analysis of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Evaluations

T. Scott Prince and Arthur Frank
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, v 38(1)
Jan 1996
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-199601000-00020
PMID: 8871335
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

The relation of exposure, impairment, and awarded disability in coal dust disease cases is often unclear. Surveillance data from large mining populations has demonstrated a decline in pulmonary function associated with coal dust exposure, even in miners with normal roentgenographs, though the frequency with which this results in impairment is not well defined. This study examines a more specific group, 374 disability claimants, for whom evaluation data is less extensive. In this group, several pulmonary function variables declined in association with years mining, even after controlling for roentgenograph status and smoking. This was particularly seen among underground miners, although the declines were small and of marginal statistical significance. Awards were evaluated for 203 resolved cases. Among 59 with completely normal roentgenographs and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), 38 (64%) received some disability award. These findings support development of a more rational impairment/disability system for those with potential coal dust disease.

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2 citations in Web of Science
2 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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