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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Janice Windau, MS, Office of Safety, Health and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Massachusetts Ave, NE, Room 3180, Washington, DC 22303, 202.691.6160, Windau_J@bls.gov

Background: Coal mining has historically been considered a dangerous industry. While injury and fatality counts have declined in recent years, coal miners' risk of injury is still higher than other industries. Methods: Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics were examined to determine the extent to which coal miners are injured, the severity of these injuries, and the ways in which these injuries occur. Results: Coal miners suffer fatal and nonfatal injuries more frequently than workers in most other industries. From 1992-2002, 427 workers lost their lives while working in the coal mining industry. During the period from 1999 to 2001, their fatal work injury rates were about 10 times that for all private sector establishments. Although their nonfatal injury rates were only slightly higher than that for all private sector industries, the injuries they did receive were typically more severe than those received in other industries. In addition to cave-ins, their fatalities resulted from being caught in running equipment, being struck by falling objects, and coming in contact with electric current. This presentation will discuss these and other hazards faced in both surface and underground coal mines. Conclusions: Coal miners continue to be at increased risk of severe injury. The hazards they face are varied.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to

• List three major ways coal miners are fatally injured.
• Name two additional ways nonfatal injuries occur to coal miners.
• Compare the frequency and severity of injuries in coal mining with those of other injuries.

Keywords: Injury Risk, Hazards

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered