New administrations often begin with a mandate to “cut waste” from government spending.
In President Trump’s second term, that mandate came on strong with the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Seemingly overnight, a squadron of computer programmers descended across nearly every single government agency to detect “fraud, waste, and abuse.”
Unfortunately, their sweeping effort to cut spending may have inadvertently put thousands of workers at risk for developing silicosis.
Silicosis is a progressive and often fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. The most common industries where this occurs are stone masonry and mining. When diagnosed, workers can file for workers’ compensation insurance benefits, but those benefits might not be enough to cover what will become a lifetime of medical expenses and lost earning potential.
If someone in your family has been diagnosed with silicosis, you may be able to pursue a civil complaint outside of the workers’ compensation claim. An experienced San Pedro silicosis lawsuit attorney, like the team at Frost Law, can explore those options. We’re familiar with the scope of these cases and the challenges they present for a successful outcome.
The Dangers of Silicosis for Miners and Artificial Stone Workers
Many call the dangers of silicosis the “new asbestos.” Unlike asbestos, silicosis has not gotten the same level of attention or government intervention. As reported in a recent story in The Atlantic, the dangers of silicosis first came on the government’s radar back in the 1930s when hundreds of workers hired by Union Carbide to tunnel through a mountain almost made of pure silica all died from silicosis.
A report was issued by the then Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, that exposed the widespread problem and put forth control measures that “if conscientiously adopted and applied,” could prevent silicosis.
That report was mostly ignored for decades until the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), whose prime directive was to provide OSHA with health standards for industries to adopt.
In 1974, a NIOSH report specifically targeted the dangers of worker exposure to too much silica. Sadly, OSHA was slow to react. It wasn’t until 1997 that it issued new rules for general industry and construction about wearing the newly developed N95 face masks. N stands for NIOSH.
Unfortunately, those rules didn’t extend to the mining industry, which is under the authority of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
DOGE’s Impact on Limiting Safety Inspections in the Workforce
After OSHA developed its new silica standard, MSHA remained outdated, and workers suffered as a consequence. During the Obama administration, MSHA began to adapt the silica standard, but that work was halted during the first Trump administration.
It was restarted during Biden’s term with the standard being strengthened. Then it was President Trump’s second turn.
One of President Trump’s first executive orders was designed to promote the mining industry and expand the use of coal. The new officials at the Department of Labor put a direct pause on MSHA implementing any changes to the silica standard safety protocols. They state that NIOSH no longer has the staff to certify respirators and other measurement devices.
Why? That is where DOGE comes into the equation.
In making cuts, DOGE announced the closure of 11 OSHA offices across the country. Along with that, 34 MSHA offices were also closed. The result: fewer inspections. Management may fall back into bad practices, and without safety inspections, the workers may suffer.
A Silicosis Comeback May be on the Horizon
Silicosis was already poised for a deadly comeback, but in a different industry. The fabrication and installation of artificial-stone kitchen countertops requires a lot of cutting, which means a lot of silica dust. As reported in The Atlantic article, there has been a cluster of silicosis outbreaks affecting more than 200 workers in Los Angeles, mostly Latino immigrants working in smaller fabrication shops.
A recent study published in the British Medical Journal highlights the need for more data collection. However, this will be hindered if data is not actively collected from job sites.
The Role of Legal Representation for Silicosis Claims
Like asbestos, silicosis can take 10 to 20 years to manifest before it becomes a diagnosable disease—and is often irreversible.
It is also extremely hard to bring a legal claim for silicosis the company you worked for at the time of exposure may have since gone out of business. And while funds have been set up to compensate victims diagnosed with asbestos, none of have been established for those with silicosis.
That is why you need the support of attorneys who have handled this exact type of case. Frost Law Firm, PC, has helped many clients take on big insurance companies and industries as we fight to do what is right by our clients.
If you or someone in your family has been impacted by silicosis, we want to hear from you. Reach out today for an initial consultation with an experienced attorney.
