OCCUPATIONAL RESPIRATORY DISEASE SURVEILLANCE

Enhanced Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program

Target: Surface Mines (2010-2011)

County Summary Report

STATISTICS FOR SURFACE MINERS WORKING IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Demographics Data

For this survey, there was an estimated employment of 363 in 2011. Of those 363 employed, there were 56 examined for a participation rate of 15%.

The mean age for 56 miners is 50 and ranged from 25 to 76.
The mean tenure for 6 miners is 12 and ranged from 5 to 25.

View methods

Prevalence of Disease

Of the 56 miners examined:

3 miners ( 5%) showed signs of pneumoconiosis reported as >= 1/0 or PMF.
2 miners ( 4%) showed signs of pneumoconiosis reported as >=2/1 or PMF.
1 miner ( 2%) showed signs of PMF.
2 miners ( 4%) showed signs of advanced pneumoconiosis.

View methods

Distribution of Radiographic Findings

For the 56 miners examined, the distribution of the miners in the profusion of small opacities categories is:

93% ( 52 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 0/0.
2% ( 1 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 0/1.
2% ( 1 miner ) showed the small opacity category of 1/0.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 1/1.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 1/2.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 2/1.
2% ( 1 miner ) showed the small opacity category of 2/2.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 2/3.
2% ( 1 miner ) showed the small opacity category of 3/2.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 3/3.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the small opacity category of 3/+.

For the 56 miners examined, the distribution of the miners in the large opacities stages is:

98% ( 55 miners ) showed the large opacity stage of O.
2% ( 1 miner ) showed the large opacity stage of A.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the large opacity stage of B.
0% ( 0 miners ) showed the large opacity stage of C.

For the 56 miners examined, the distribution for symbol ax is:

4% ( 2 miners ) showed coalescence of the small opacities.

View methods

Methods used for the Demographics Data

SURVEY PARTICIPATION RATE: count of the number of miners with a valid x-ray during the survey period (NUMBER OF MINERS EXAMINED) divided by the count of the names on the most recent mine rosters submitted to NIOSH by the mine operators (ESTIMATED CURRENT EMPLOYMENT).

AGE - MEAN: summation of the calculated age at time of the x-ray divided by count of participating miners who provided their date of birth (N).

TENURE - MEAN: summation of the reported years in various underground mining occupations divided by count of participating miners with a completed work history (N).

Return to report

Methods used for the Prevalence of Disease Data

>= 1/0 or PMF: number of x-rays with a final determination (consensus based upon NIOSH procedures) of the International Labour Office (ILO) small opacity profusion category 1/0 or higher or with the presence of large opacities, divided by the number of participating miners with a valid x-ray.

>= 2/1 or PMF: number of x-rays with a final determination (consensus based upon NIOSH procedures) of the International Labour Office (ILO) small opacity profusion category 2/1 or higher or with the presence of large opacities, divided by the number of participating miners with a valid x-ray.

PMF: number of x-rays with a final determination of ILO large opacity category "A", "B", or "C" divided by the number of participating miners with a valid x-ray.

ADVANCED: number of x-rays with a final determination of ILO small opacity profusion category 2/1 or higher and presence of symbol "ax" (coalescence of small opacities) or ILO large opacity category of "A", "B", or "C" divided by the number of participating miners with a valid x-ray.

Return to report

Methods used for the Distribution of Radiographic Findings

PROFUSION OF SMALL OPACITIES, LARGE OPACITIES & SYMBOLS: count and percent of the x-rays using the final determination of the ILO small opacity, the final determination of the ILO large opacity, and symbol "ax" (coalescence of small opacities).

Return to report