NIOSH Mining: Older Workers Topic Page

NIOSH Mining Safety and Health Topic

Older workers

Trouble hearing Mine workers have historically been involved in physically demanding work, and as a group they are older than workers in general industry. In 2004, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov), estimated that the median age of coal mine workers was 45.9 years old while the median age for all U.S. employees was 40.5 years. Assuming that an "older worker" is 45 years or older, approximately half of the coal mining industry can be considered to be older. Other mining commodities are not far behind. These demographics create two major concerns for the mining industry: 1) the ability to transfer the knowledge that older mine workers have to younger workers, and 2) the need to maintain a healthy, age-diverse workforce despite the fact that many older workers may be experiencing normal physical and cognitive changes that accompany aging.

The work in this topic area is supported by the NIOSH Mining Training and Ergonomics programs. See the NIOSH Mining Products page for software, guides, training materials or other items related to this topic.

Data & statistics

The Aging Workforce: An Emerging Issue in the Mining Industry (PDF, 171 KB, 2000)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median age of the mining workforce is rising faster than the overall U.S. civilian labor force. The Mine Safety and Health Administration reports that the percentage of injured and ill workers who are 45 or older increased steadily from 1988 to 1998. Given this trend, health and safety programs must consider the physiological changes associated with aging when evaluating job tasks and the working environment.

Median Age of Injured or Ill Workers (HTM, 2006)
Median Age of Injured or Ill Workers by Mining Sector by Year (Source: MSHA)

Mining Workforce Age and Injury Statistics, 1997-2002 (HTM, 2005)
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey (http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm), 1997-2002.

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 packages

Age Awareness Training for Miners (PDF, 12587 KB, 2008-06)
The purpose of this training is to provide the information necessary to develop an appreciation of the changes that occur with age and an understanding of methods that can be used to reduce the injury risk that may result.

Age Awareness Training
The purpose of this training is to provide the information necessary to develop an appreciation of the changes that occur with age and an understanding of methods that can be used to reduce the injury risk that may result.

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.

Issues for Training an Evolving Emergency Management Workforce: A View from the U.S. Mining Community (PDF, 740 KB, 2002-05)
This paper reviews research from the U.S. mining community to define issues relevant to an evolving national and international workforce and relate them to the emergency response population.

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.

Information gateways

Healthy Aging
This CDC site is a rich source of facts on health information for older workers, health statistics, and links to related organizations.