NIOSH Black Lung Workers Hired Back

At least 50 employees in NIOSH’s Respiratory Health Division have had their terminations rescinded, meeting requirements set in a court order last month.
Those returning to work include “most” employees who worked within the RHD before April 1, which is when reduction in force notices were issued throughout multiple NIOSH divisions as a result of the new federal Department of Government Efficiency’s cost-saving measures.
The employees provide free black lung screenings and certifying black lung x-ray results for miners who have been diagnosed with black lung disease so they can exercise their Part 90 rights.
Part 90 allows miners who have black lung to be transferred to a different, less dusty part of a coal mine without facing repercussions from their employers.
NIOSH is the only agency that can certify test results for miners to receive a Part 90 transfer.
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A plan to shut the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board by October 2026 was included in White House budget documents submitted last week, The Washington Post reported.
The White House Office of Management and Budget wrote in the new documents that closing the Chemical Safety Board would be “part of the Administration’s plans to move the nation towards fiscal responsibility and to redefine the proper role of the Federal Government.”
In addition to probing the root causes of major chemical accidents, it has previously issued safety recommendations that have informed OSHA regulations, according to the report.
It added that funding for the board should be “permanently canceled not later than September 30, 2026.”
The agency has been operating since 1998.
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The U.S. Department of Labor has launched its opinion letter program designed to provide compliance assistance that helps workers, employers and other stakeholders understand how federal labor laws apply in specific workplace situations, according to a statement.
Under the program OSHA will provide letters of interpretation.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration will provide compliance assistance resources through its new MSHA Information Hub, a centralized platform offering guidance, regulatory updates, training materials and technical support.
Opinion letters provide official written interpretations from the department’s enforcement agencies, explaining how laws apply to specific factual circumstances presented by individuals or organizations.
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Voxel said Tuesday that it raised $44 million in a Series B funding round to expand its AI-enabled workplace safety and risk platform.
The San Francisco-based startup claims its system, using existing workplace video cameras, allows safety, operations, and HR professionals to address issues before they result in injuries, which it says fundamentally shifts workplace safety from reactive response to proactive prevention.
Current customers include companies like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Americold, AGI, Port of Virginia, and Berry Global.
Investors include NewRoad Capital Partners, Rite Hite, Tokio Marine, and MTech.
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