Fatal Injuries
Magnitude and Trend
How many fatal injuries occurred in coal and metal/nonmetal mining during 1966–2000?
 | Figure 4-5 Number and average annual rate of fatal occupational injuries in coal and metal/nonmetal mining for each 5-year period during 1966-2000, including factors affecting reductions in these injuries. The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 was passed soon after 78 coal miners died in 1968 during an underground explosion in the Consol No. 9 Mine at Farmington, West Virginia. Numbers and rates of fatal injuries in coal mining declined steadily after passage of the 1969 Act. During the most recent 5-year period (1996-2000), the fatal injury rate for coal mining was at its lowest-33 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (which included metal/nonmetal mining) was passed a few years after 91 miners lost their lives in a 1972 underground mine fire at the Sunshine Silver Mine. The fatal occupational injury rate for metal/nonmetal mining declined to its lowest rate (25.3 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) in 1991-1995. During 1996-2000, this rate increased to 27.1 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. Safety and health legislation has been an important factor in reducing fatal occupational injury rates over the past three decades. However, other critical factors include improvements in mining technology such as roof bolting to prevent roof cave-ins, dust suppression and ventilation techniques, and use of noncombustible materials to prevent explosions and fires. Despite large declines in the numbers and rates of fatal injuries to miners, mining continues to be one of the most hazardous occupations. (Sources: MSHA [2002]; NIOSH [2003a].) |
Type of Employer and Commodity
How has the rate of fatal mining injuries changed in recent years?
 | Figure 4-6 Rates of fatal mining injuries by type of employer and commodity, 1993-1997 and 1998-2002. For these two periods, the 5-year average rate of fatal mining injuries declined from 30.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers (1993-1997) to 27.7 (1998-2002). Most of this decline was due to decreases in the rates of fatal mining injuries among independent contractor workers, stone operator workers, and nonmetal operator workers. Increased rates occurred among sand and gravel operator workers and metal operator workers. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].) |
Work Location
Which sectors of the mining industry posed the highest risks of fatal injury to mine workers during 1998–2002?
 | 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].) |
Type of Incident
How and where were mine workers fatally injured during 1998–2002?
 | 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].) |
Size of Operation (Employment)
How did fatal injury rates vary by employment size of the mining operation in 1998–2002?
 | Figure 4-8 Number and rate of fatal mining injuries by employment size of mining operation (excluding independent contractor workers), 1998-2002. During 1998-2002, rates of fatal mining injuries generally decreased as the employment size of mining operations increased. The highest fatal injury rate occurred in mining operations employing fewer than 10 workers (40.0 fatal per 100,000 workers). Conversely, the lowest fatal injury rate (17.8 per 100,000 workers) occurred in mining operations employing 250 or more workers. (Sources: MSHA [2003]; NIOSH [2003a].) |
