THE NATIONAL Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and its Mobile Occupational Safety and Health Unit is making its way to Illinois in April, where miners can receive free pneumoconiosis (black lung) screenings.

The entire examination takes about 25 minutes and includes a short questionnaire, a chest X-ray and a spirometry test.

NIOSH will also have blood pressure screening available.

The testing calendar will begin on April 1 at Peabody Midwest’s Wildcat Hills mine, followed up the next day at Walmart in Carmi. April 3 will be at the Economy Inn and Suites in Harrisburg, and Knight Hawk Coal’s Prairie Eagle South mine will be the mobile’s stop on April 4.

Peabody’s Gateway operation will play host on April 5.

The following week, Prairie State’s Lively Grove operation, Maryan Mining’s Shay #1 mine, the Tri-County Coal Crown III complex and Arch Coal’s Viper will receive visits from NOISH April 8-11, respectively.

The final day of testing in the area will be April 12, when the mobile screening unit will visit the Hampton Inn in Litchfield.

All testing days will run from 7am to 7pm.

Although walk-ins will be accepted, miners are urged to schedule an appointment by calling 1-888-480-4042.

Depending on the number of miners participating, some wait time should be anticipated.