Worker Health Chartbook 2004

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1		Figure 4-3 Number of full-time equivalent workers at surface work locations by type of employer, 1992 and 2002. From 1992 to 2002, overall employment at surface mining work locations decreased by 8.5%, from 237,300 to 217,000. At surface locations, the number of metal operator workers decreased 44%, the number of coal operator workers decreased 28%, and the number of nonmetal operator workers decreased 21%. The number employed at surface operations increased for stone operator workers, sand and gravel operator workers, and independent contractor workers. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].)
2		Figure 4-7 Number and distribution of fatal mining injuries by type of incident and work location, 1998-2002. During 1998-2002, most fatal injuries to miners working at surface mining locations (61.2%) were associated with the use of powered haulage (such as motors and rail cars, conveyors, bucket elevators, vertical manlifts, shuttle cars, haulage trucks, and front-end loaders) and machinery (for example, electric and air-powered tools and mining machinery such as drills, draglines, power shovels, and loading machines). Most fatal mining injuries underground (43.3%) were classified as fall of ground (that is, fall of roof or back). (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].)
3		Figure 4-9 Rate of lost-workday injuries for surface mining operations by type of employer and commodity, 1993-2002. From 1993 to 2002, the rate of lost-workday injuries declined overall for operator workers in all commodities and for metal/nonmetal-independent contractor workers. Throughout this 10-year period, the highest rates of lost-workday injuries were consistently observed for stone operator workers. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].)
4		Figure 4-11 Rate of lost-workday injuries by type of incident and work location, 1998-2002. During 1998-2002, miners at underground locations generally had higher nonfatal injury rates than those working on the surface. Injuries to miners at both surface and underground locations were most frequently associated with handling materials and slip or fall of person. Miners working underground also had relatively high rates of injury from fall of ground incidents (caving rock), or in incidents involving powered haulage or machinery. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].)
5		Figure 4-14 Median number of lost workdays due to nonfatal lost-time mining injuries by work location and selected types of incidents, 1998-2002. During 1998-2002, the median number of lost workdays due to nonfatal lost-time mining injuries was 21 for miners injured underground and 14 for miners injured at surface locations. At surface locations, falls of ground (e.g., rock dislodging from a highwall) accounted for the highest median number of lost workdays. At underground locations, powered haulage and slip or fall of person accounted for the highest median number of lost workdays. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].)
6		Table 4-1 Number and 5-year average rate of fatal mining injuries by type of employer and commodity at various work locations, 1998-2002. Underground mines posed the greatest risk of fatal injury to mine workers during 1998-2002. At these mines, the highest fatal injury rates were among metal mine operator workers and all independent contractor workers. At surface locations, the highest fatal injury rate was at the dredge. All 11 fatalities at the dredge occurred at sand and gravel mines. Within each commodity, fatal injury rates were highest for independent contractor workers at two metal/nonmetal surface locations: strip/open pit/quarry and mills. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003].)
7		Table 4-2 Number and 5-year average rate of lost-workday injuries by type of employer and commodity at various work locations, 1998-2002. During 1998-2002, both the highest numbers and rates of lost-workday injuries occurred in the underground work areas of underground mines. Within underground work areas, the highest rates were observed for coal mine operator and coal mine contractor workers, who together accounted for 88% (17,260) of all the lost-workday injuries in underground work areas. Within surface locations, the highest injury rates were in stone and nonmetal dredge locations. High numbers and rates of injuries were also experienced by stone mine operator workers at both surface production areas and processing (mill) work areas. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].)

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