Mining Industry Worker Establishes Asthma as Occupational Disease

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a finding that a worker sustained the occupational disease of asthma in the course of and resulting from employment in the mining industry. Case: Blackhawk Mining LLC v. Woods, No. 25-ICA-63, 08/06/2025, published. Facts: Harold Woods Jr. worked for Blackhawk Mining LLC. He filed a workers’ compensation claim in June 2022, alleging that he sustained an injury to his lungs due to exposure to coal dust, magnetite, welding fumes and flocculant at hazardous levels while working in Blackhawk’s prep plant. Dr. Rob Keith s...