The new monitor, carried on the miner’s belt and which conveys real-time information about a miner’s work environment, has the potential to help fight black lung disease.

The Bush administration has come under pressure from miners and operators to delay the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rule until the device was tested further and a new rule could be formed to direct the use of the monitor.

The rule came under fire because it only dealt with coal dust but didn’t direct the use of the monitors. Originally, public comments on the rule were due this week, however the cut off was criticised for not providing enough time for comment.

United Mine Workers of America International president Cecil Roberts supported MSHA’s decision to suspend action on the proposed rules governing permissible respirable dust levels. He credited the delay on miners' nationwide strong stand against the rule, but was concerned the rule was still on the table.

He said the proposal would permit dust levels to increase from 2 milligrams per cubic meter to 8 milligrams per cubic meter, or four times the limit permitted by the federal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.

"The UMWA gives the bulk of the credit for MSHA's decision to the hundreds of miners nationwide who took the time to attend the agency's six public hearings, many of them voicing strong opposition to the new rules. Having some industry opposition at those hearings didn't hurt either," Roberts said.

The device is currently undergoing rigorous testing by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), including on-site tests at a West Virginia coal mine. It could be possibly be on the market before the end of the year.

"We've heard nothing but positive things about the test results so far," Roberts said. "If everything keeps going the way it is, the UMWA believes the personal dust monitor could–and should–soon be in use in mines across the country. This is one device that could really help drive a stake through the heart of the dreaded black lung disease, which still kills more than 1,000 miners a year."

MSHA administrator Dave Lauriski said the personal dust monitors (PDM) appear to hold the key to achieving renewed progress in the battle against black lung

"By keeping the record open, we can assemble the best information available on PDM technology. At the conclusion of the testing period, we expect to move forward in a new and positive direction, with a final rule that reduces miners' risk of black lung disease,” Lauriski said.

Last week’s decision has meant all activity to finalise the proposed rules will stop and the record will remain open. MSHA will continue to work with NIOSH on the completion of the in-mine tests of the prototype and if the assessment is deemed positive MSHA and NIOSH will commit $150,000 each toward the purchase of production prototype PDMs.