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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov), the U.S. mining workforce is aging. For example, the National Mining Association (http://www.nma.org) estimates that about half of the underground coal mining workforce will retire and be replaced within the next 5-7 years. We need to prepare this new generation of miners for healthy and safe careers. This requires understanding the process today's new employees go through as they become miners. What perceptions, knowledge and expectations do new miners have about workplace safety and health? How are these impacted by 40-hour new miner training? Do beliefs and knowledge change when miners meet the realities of their new jobs? What training interventions can start new miners off with the right safety and health beliefs and behaviors? The work in this topic area is supported by the NIOSH Mining Training program. See the NIOSH Mining Products page for software, guides, training materials or other items related to this topic.
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Data & statistics
What Difference Does Age Make? Part 1: Mining in All Commodities (http://holmessafety.org/bulletins/2005-05-06.pdf) (PDF, 622 KB, 2005-05)
This report analyzed MSHA accident statistics for 2002 to explore the relationship between the age of injured workers and their job titles, the severity of their injuries, and the types of accident they had.
What Difference Does Age Make? Part 2: Coal Mining Injuries (http://holmessafety.org/bulletins/2006-01-02.pdf) (PDF, 590 KB, 2006)
This report analyzed MSHA accident statistics for 2002 to explore the relationship between the age of injured workers and their job titles, severity of the accident, the types of accident they had, total mining experience, and experience at the mine where they were working when the accident occurred.
What Difference Does Age Make? Part 3: Metal Ore Mine Injuries (http://holmessafety.org/bulletins/2006-03-04.pdf) (PDF, 4423 KB, 2006)
This report analyzed MSHA accident statistics for 2002 in the U.S. metal ore mining to explore the relationship between the age of injured workers and their job titles, severity of the accident, the types of accident they had, total mining experience, and experience at the mine where they were working when the accident occurred.
Training theory & methodology
The Evolving Mining Workforce: Training Issues (PDF, 310 KB, 2001-08)
A major concern in the mining industry today is how to train the present aging workforce plus the expected influx of new and less experienced miners and mine operators as the cohort of older workers retire.
Getting Through to Greenhorns: Do Old Training Styles Work with New Miners? (PDF, 492 KB, 2002-09)
This paper discusses the training needs of the younger generation of inexperienced workers who have just entered or are soon to enter the mines. Currently, many trainers are of the so-called Baby Boom generation. Can these different age groups learn to communicate across the generation gap?
Principles of Adult Learning: Application for Mine Trainers (PDF, 492 KB, 2002-09)
Discusses the principals of adult learning based on research in education and psychology, and stresses the importance of taking a systems approach to training.
Principles of Adult Learning: Tips for Trainers (HTM, 20 KB, 2004-12)
It is important to understand and integrate principles of adult learning in training the nation's miners. Attention must be given to the miner population and how individuals learn and respond to information.
Safety and Health Training for an Evolving Workforce: An Overview From the Mining Industry (PDF, 207 KB, 2004-07)
Safety and health professionals recognize that training is a critical element of any effective safety and health program. Of present major concern in the mining industry is how to provide appropriate training for an aging workforce and concurrently develop training for the expected influx of new and less experienced miners as older workers retire.
Training design & evaluation
Guidelines for the Development of a New Miner Training Curriculum (PDF, 291 KB, 2008-01)
This report is intended to help mine safety trainers better prepare to teach the influx of new underground coal miners who are entering the industry by identifying two different approaches to instruction and discussing the ways they may affect how well prepared new hires are to deal with a dynamic and hazardous workplace.
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