A joint investigation by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Medill Investigative Lab into one of the most dangerous workplace hazards in America began in the heart of Appalachia with a disabled 49-year-old coal miner named Randall Dickerson.
Though the federal agency charged with regulating the coal industry was warned about the hazards and the younger miners now impacted by silica dust — including a fourfold increase in cases of the illness — the agency failed at nearly every level to enforce protections, from missed safety inspections and gaps in detecting the hazards to failing to crack down on operators when the dust levels soared beyond the bounds of safety, the reporters found.
Judges’ comments:
This impressive series marshalled a team to chronicle the crushing of the mine safety system that was, even before the current administration’s push to cut regulations, unable to keep up with oversight inspections. By throwing everything they had at the story, the reporting and editorial team was able to halt the wholesale elimination of the mine safety system. At least for now, as evidenced by the closure of arguably the best inspection branch office in the system. In terms of fighting the good fight against overwhelming odds, and the assemblage of anecdotes, facts, data, and images brought to bear is extraordinary.