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In 2003, MSHA reports that 7,070 mines produced sand and gravel, representing 49.1 percent of all mining operations. There were 35,966 employees, contributing 12.6 percent of all mine operator employee hours. During that year, there were 10 work-related fatalities and 846 non-fatal, lost-time injuries resulting in 39,843 days lost from work. To analyze the data further, the 10-year period from 1994 to 2003 was selected. Average annual production during the 10-year period was used where feasible for determining the rate for the category under consideration. When production data was not available for a specific category, mean employee-hours data was used for determining the rate. Production-based rates were adjusted for 100 million tons production of sand and gravel. Employee-hours based rates were adjusted for 10 million employee hours. Surface and dredge work locations were considered. Fatal injuries were assessed by the number of fatalities during the 10-year period. In the case of non-fatal injuries, non-fatal days lost (NFDL) data was used for the assessment. Each of these injury categories was further analyzed in terms of the accident/illness/injury classification and worker activity at the time of injury. The later was analyzed further for identification of top subcategories. In a recent report to the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, MSHA created a broader category - maintenance, repair, and construction (MRC) - comprising: machine maintenance and repair, non-powered hand tools, surface construction NEC, welding and cutting elect/acetyl, powered hand tools, moving equipment (fans/pumps etc.), grinding bits/steel/welds, electrical maintenance/repair, operate hoist, working with chemicals, and working with noxious materials. This composite category was also assessed for fatal and non-fatal injuries and equipment responsible for those injuries. During the 10-year period, average annual production of sand and gravel was 1.036 billion metric tons, and the corresponding mean employee hours for the two work locations was 63.974 million.
| Author(s): | Karra-VK |
| Reference: | Aggreg Manag 2006 11(11):38-41 |
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