Lungs at Work reaches out
Guy Martfolf started working in the coal mines when he was 15 years old.
At age 78, the Euclid man developed shortness of breath and coughing — which was diagnosed as black lung.
For three years, Martfolf tried unsuccessfully to get federal aid before hearing about Lungs at Work, a chronic respiratory disease clinic that helps coal miners obtain federal black lung benefits.
Based in McMurray, Washington County, Lungs at Work provides outreach services in eight counties in Western Pennsylvania, including Butler.
Because black lung is a latent disease, Lungs at Work does frequent screenings and likes to keep in touch with clients who have both received or been denied benefits at least once a year to see if there are any health changes. Lungs at Work also goes to area mines, such as Consol Energy, to give free lung screenings.
Black lung occurs when coal dust, breathed in after years of coal mining, lies in the lungs, eventually deteriorating the tissues, said Laurie Roberts of Lungs at Work. People with black lung can develop coughing, shortness of breath, emphysema, scarring of the lungs and an "overall inability to function," she said.
Lungs at Work began in 2002. Its founder, Lynda Glagola, was doing a black lung program out of Canonsburg Hospital when the federal funding source changed, requiring people working in black lung programs to write grants to gain funding.
"(So) I wrote a grant and started Lungs at Work," Glagola said.
Now, Glagola and her staff are kept busy doing outreach programs, screenings, securing additional physician diagnoses and representing clients at black lung benefits determination hearings. All at no charge.
"We develop good, strong medical evidence and let it speak for itself," Glagola said. Although she is just a lay advocate, if a coal company appeals a decision, Lungs at Work will find clients an attorney.
Walter Hoover, 75, of Butler, retired in 1988 and is navigating the black lung benefits maze with his wife, Jean, and Glagola.
"It's a slow process," Jean said. "Thank God for Lynda."
Walter Hoover started to develop breathing problems in 1983, and they gradually progressed.
"It's not something that happens overnight," he said.
The couple first applied for the benefits in 1996, but they were denied. It was 10 years later that the Hoovers discovered Lungs at Work through an ad in a local newspaper.
With help from Glagola to complete the paperwork, the Hoovers expect a decision on benefits in the next few weeks.
"Lynda worked endless, endless hours on this," Jean said. "(We're) leaving it in the Lord's hands."
The instances of black lung decreased by 90 percent from 1969 to 1995, but since 1995 the occurrence of the disease has more than doubled, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. In the last decade, 10,000 miners have died as a result of black lung.What researchers don't know is why the numbers are climbing, although Glagola said some theories exist."If any other disease started to rapidly progress after a 30-year decline (people would take notice)," she said.Some theories include a failure to enforce the regulations, longer working hours and missed opportunities for early screenings, something Lungs at Work is hoping to reduce.Roberts said the organization usually sees about 20 people a month at its office and more than 70 at the mines.When people come to Lungs at Work, representatives open a claim and commit to helping clients develop their cases. The miners get two additional doctor's exams, two additional X-rays and two additional breath tests. The organization then will represent the miner at a hearing before the Department of Labor, which will determine if the disease is related to coal dust."Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's contested," Roberts said.Because Lungs at Work is funded through grants, the group does little advertising, relying instead on referrals from physicians and friends and relatives of the miners. Roberts also hopes people who go to the screenings will remember Lungs at Work if and when they ever develop problems.Lungs at Work can be reached by calling 724-941-1650.
