NEW: Federal labor report says regulations don’t do enough to protect miners from black lung

A new report from the US Department of Labor recommends changes to federal mine regulations concerning crystalline silica—the toxic substance that has led to the death of thousands of coal miners from black lung.

Comments from the Office of Inspector General said the Mine Safety and Health Administration has not sufficiently done enough to protect workers from silica including using out-of-date exposure warning levels.

The office also recommends the agency establish a separate penalty for silica violations for more enforcement and increased inspections for the harmful product.

Their research showed three times as many coal miners were identified as having black lung disease from 2000 to 2014 despite implemented changes to regulations prior to those cases.

(LOGO: US Department of Labor / OIG)