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News Release USDL: 97-98
Wednesday, March 19, 1997
Contact (MSHA): Amy Louviere, (703) 235-1452
Contact (OSHA): Frank Kane, (202) 219-8151

Best practices to prevent silicosis -- a disabling, sometimes fatal lung disease caused by overexposure to silicia dust -- will be the focus of a conference March 25 and 26, 1997, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Lung Association. At least 100,000 workers in construction, mining and other "dusty trades" are at high risk of silica dust overexposure. Each year more than 250 workers die with silicosis.

The "1997 National Conference to Eliminate Silicosis," will be held at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. Conference hours are 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days.

Acting Labor Secretary Cynthia Metzler will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, March 25, at 8:30 a.m. The luncheon speaker on Wednesday, March 26, at 1:00 p.m., will be Herb O'Connor, producer of ABC's Nightline. Other speakers include J. Davitt McAteer, assistant labor secretary for mine safety and health; Linda Rosenstock, M.D., M.P.H., director of NIOSH; Gregory R. Watchman, acting assistant labor secretary for occupational safety and health; and Leo W. Gerard, international secretary-treasurer of the United Steelworkers of America.

The 20 scheduled workshops will cover best practices for workers, using medical surveillance to target silicosis prevention efforts, respiratory protection, the benefits of silicosis prevention, profiles of successful prevention programs, and much more. Several hundred business and labor representatives are already registered and will participate in the workshop discussions.

For further information about the conference, contact Donna Green at the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration, (703) 235-2625.