March 17, 2026 - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)  is offering free, confidential black lung screenings to coal miners in southern West Virginia.

The NIOSH mobile screening unit will be stopping in Nicholas, Fayette, and Raleigh counties from Tuesday, March 17, to Saturday, March 21, 2026. The mobile screening unit allows NIOSH to travel to coal mining regions across the country and provide services to our nation’s coal miners and former coal miners.

During these confidential screenings, coal miners can get a chest x-ray, a breathing test, blood pressure screenings and more, completely free of charge.

On Tuesday, March 17, the mobile screening unit will be located at the Hampton Inn, 5400 West Webster Road in Summersville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19, the mobile screening unit can be found at the New River Health Black Lung Clinic, 497 Mall Road in Oak Hill, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday.

On Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, the mobile screening unit will be at the West Virginia Women’s Expo at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, 200 Armory Drive in Beckley. The mobile screening unit will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

NIOSH recommends that patients schedule an appointment beforehand, but walk-ins from current or former coal miners are also welcome.

For more information, contact the coal workers’ health surveillance program at 1-888-480-4042 or by email at cwhsp@cdc.gov.