Federal Court: 125 Days Qualify as 'Year' of Coal Mine Employment

A federal appellate court ruled that a worker needs to prove only that he worked for 125 days in coal mines during a calendar year to have a “year” of qualifying coal mine employment for purposes of the Black Lung Benefits Act presumption. Case: Hayes v. OWCP, No. 24-11260, 04/07/2026, published. Facts: Ermine Hayes worked for Cowin & Co. from 1955 to 1986. Hayes intermittently worked underground constructing mine shafts, but not all of his work was done in mines. Procedural history: In 2015, Hayes filed a claim under the Black Lung Benefits Act. An administrative...