NIOSH Mining Safety and Health Research

Number and Rate of Occupational Fatalities in Mining, 2004-2008

Per 100,000 Full-time Equivalent1 Employees by Type of Employer, Commodity, and Work Location (Excludes office employees)


Type of Employer and Commodity Underground Mines Surface Mines Total
Underground Surface areas Strip/Open Pit/Quarry2 Dredge Mills/plants
Coal operator No. 93 5 24 0 6 128
Rate 44.7 NC3 13.8 NC 12.6 28.8
Confidence Interval [36.1, 54.8] NC [8.9, 20.6] NC [4.6, 27.4] [23.8, 33.8]
Metal operator No. 8 2 5 0 7 22
Rate 33.6 NC NC NC 11.4 14.4
Confidence Interval [14.5, 66.1] NC NC NC [4.6, 23.5] [9.0, 21.8]
Nonmetal operator No. 5 0 2 0 1 8
Rate NC NC NC NC NC 8.0
Confidence Interval NC NC NC NC NC [3.4, 15.7]
Stone operator No. 4 2 22 0 20 48
Rate NC NC 13.0 NC 11.4 13.4
Confidence Interval NC NC [8.1, 19.6] NC [7.0, 17.6] [9.9, 17.8]
Sand & gravel operator No. NA4 NA 21 10 NR5 31
Rate NA NA 15.1 38.9 NR 18.8
Confidence Interval NA NA [9.4, 23.1] [18.6, 71.5] NR [12.8, 26.7]
Coal contractor No. 8 5 9 NA 11 33
Rate 52.5 NC 17.5 NA 46.0 31.0
Confidence Interval [22.7, 103.4] NC [8.0, 33.2] NA [23.0, 82.3] [21.4, 43.6]
Noncoal contractor No. 2 2 14 1 15 34
Rate NC NC 15.4 NC 31.6 22.4
Confidence Interval NC NC [8.4, 25.8] NC [17.7, 52.1] [15.5, 31.4]
 
Total   No. 120 16 97 11 60 304
Rate 43.3 36.3 13.6 39.5 14.4 20.6
Confidence Interval [35.6, 51.1] [20.7, 58.9] [11.1, 16.6] [19.7, 70.7] [11.0, 18.5] [18.3, 22.9]
NOTE: Rates based on 20 or fewer events are less reliable and caution should be used with interpretation.
1Full-time equivalent employees based on reported number of employee hours (2,000 hours = 1 FTE).
2Also includes culm banks, auger mining, independent shops and yards, and surface mining not elsewhere classified.
3NC=Not computed for 5 or fewer fatalities.
4NA=Not applicable for this commodity.
5NR=Not reported separately. Sand and gravel operators report mill employment under strip or dredge operations.
 Data Source: MSHA
 
Page last updated: April 20, 2010
Page last reviewed: March 30, 2011
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)