NIOSH Mining Safety and Health Research

Distribution of Cases of Occupational Illness in Mining, 2007

Reported to MSHA by Type of Illness, Commodity, and Employer Type (Excludes office employees)


Type of Illness Mine Operators Independent Contractors Total
Coal Metal Nonmetal Stone Sand and Gravel Coal Noncoal
Asphyxia, strangulation, drowning, etc. 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Disease, contagious or infectious 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Dermatitis 1 1 1 6 0 0 1 10
Hearing loss or impairment 28 2 33 15 9 1 0 88
Heat stroke, sunstroke, heat cramps, etc. 0 2 3 13 5 4 8 35
Joint, tendon, or muscle inflammation or irritation 44 17 12 34 7 1 1 116
Poisoning, systemic 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Other pneumoconiosis, NEC 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Asbestosis 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2
Black lung (coal workers' pneumoconiosis) 47 0 0 0 0 0 0 47
Silicosis 0 2 3 6 2 0 0 13
Cerebral hemorrhage - NOT concussion 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1
Occupational diseases, NEC 28 0 1 2 0 0 0 31
Other injury, NEC 4 0 0 2 0 0 1 7
Unclassified, not determined 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
Total 152 27 54 81 23 6 12 355
Note: Because of the complexity of attributing disease causation to the workplace, occupational illnesses may be underreported.

Data Source: MSHA

 
Page last updated: May 12, 2009
Page last reviewed: March 30, 2009
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)