Steelworkers Protest Mine Fumes Standard to US Government

The USW is protesting against the Bush government’s weakening of mine safety regulations regarding underground fumes. Bush’s Department of Labor (DOL) relaxed rules on necessary engineering controls in monitoring metal and non-metal mines in favour of a new standard that expands the use of respirators for workers.

But DOL’s Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) did not go far enough in requiring employers to medically test workers for their ability to use respirators safely, an obvious slight for miners with undiagnosed heart and lung problems. USW Health, Safety and Environment Director Mike Wright called it “a gift to (Bush administration) supporters in the mining industry. It’s entirely political, and I suspect the decision was made over the objections of MSHA health staff, who certainly know better.” The USW said it would challenge the respiration revisions in court.