NIOSH Mining: Older Workers Topic Page

NIOSH Office of Mine Safety and Health Research 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 2007, 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 41.0 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 Ergonomics and Training programs. See the NIOSH Mining Products page for software, guides, training materials or other items related to this topic.

Older Workers Spotlights

Underground Coal Mining Injury: A Look at How Age and Experience Relate to Days Lost from Work Following an Injury (PDF, 84 KB, 2010-04)
This study used the MSHA database on accidents, injury, and illness from the years 2003 through 2007 to examine how age, experience at the current mine, total years experience as a coal miner, and experience in the current job affects injury severity.

Data & statistics

Median Age of Injured or Ill Workers (HTM, 2012-02)
Median Age of Injured or Ill Workers by Mining Sector by Year (Source: MSHA)

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.

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