Mobile Unit Screenings

NIOSH state-of-the-art mobile units travel to convenient

community and mine locations to provide health screenings 

to all coal miners (past and present).

Screenings include:

• Work history questionnaire

• Chest x-ray

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program

Black Lung Screenings

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 

Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program (CWHSP) studies the 

causes and effects of respiratory diseases related to coal mine 

dust exposure and provides vital health information to coal miners 

through health screenings and surveillance.

Coal Mine Dust Lung Disease

Exposure to dust in coal mines can cause 

several lung diseases. These include black lung, 

silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

(COPD), bronchitis, and emphysema. 

"The first priority and concern of all in the coal or mining industry 

must be the health and safety of our most precious resource, 

the miner."

~Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, amended 1977

• Respiratory assessment questionnaire

• Lung function testing (spirometry)

• Blood pressure screening

Screenings usually take about 30 minutes. NIOSH directly provides 

each miner with their screening results. By law, each person’s results

are confidential. No individual information is publicly disclosed. 

Participation in this program gives coal miners:

• An easy way of checking their health status

• A confidential report about their lung function

• A confidential report on whether or not they have evidence 

 of black lung 

Clinic screenings 

Black lung screenings are provided at NIOSH-approved clinics located in mining regions across the U.S. Find

information about facilities on the NIOSH-Approved Facility Search and Map web page at 

wwwn.cdc.gov/niosh-rhd/cwhsp/FacilityMap.aspx.

Photo by NIOSH

Photo by NIOSH
How often do the NIOSH mobile units 

provide lung screenings and where? 

NIOSH mobile units travel to different coal mining 

regions across the United States every spring and 

summer. Locations are based each year on areas 

where more extensive health information of coal 

miners is needed. 

How will I know when lung screenings 

are available?

Announcements begin in March each year and run throughout the summer through NIOSH press releases and

the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance web page at cdc.gov/niosh/topics/cwhsp and NIOSH Facebook

and Twitter. Announcements are also made through local newspapers and radio stations.

Who can participate in the screenings?

All coal miners (current and former underground, surface, contract miners) are eligible to participate.

Do I have to pay for lung screening?

No. Screenings are free to all former and current coal miners as part of the Federal Coal Mine Safety and Health 

Act.

What is lung function testing (spirometry)?

Spirometry is a test that evaluates how well your lungs work by measuring how much air you can inhale and 

exhale, and how quickly you exhale. The test can help determine if a miner has a lung condition and helps to 

monitor conditions over time.

When and how do I receive my screening results?

Miners will receive their confidential results within 4-6 weeks after testing. Results are sent by mail directly to the 

miner's home address.

Does CWHSP save my results for future screenings or send them to my doctor?

Yes, we keep confidential records for each miner's screening results to compare with past and future screenings. 

This enables us to identify changes in your lung health. We can also send results to your doctor with a signed 

release from you.

Who can participate in black lung screenings at clinics?

Active coal miners can visit NIOSH-approved clinics to receive their free mandatory or voluntary black lung 

screenings. Go to the NIOSH Approved Facility Search and Map web page at 

wwwn.cdc.gov/niosh-rhd/cwhsp/FacilityMap.aspx to find approved facilities near you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Photo by NIOSH

CWHSP@cdc.gov

1-888-480-4042

NIOSH Publication No: 2019-112: (revised 3/2023)

Revised DOI: https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2019112evised032023

March 2023