Key points
- Most miners will experience an occupational illness affecting their health during their career.
- Many more mining fatalities result from illnesses than from injuries.
- NIOSH follows the hierarchy of controls to study and offer effective solutions.
- Partnerships and information sharing are key to industry-wide impact.
Program priorities
The NIOSH Miner Health Program prioritizes addressing the primary health hazards for mine workers.
Controlling respiratory disease hazards
- Coal dust that causes black lung
- Respirable crystalline silica that causes silicosis
- Diesel exhaust that can lead to cancer and other illnesses
- Mineral particles
Controlling hazardous noise
- Noise controls
- Noise monitoring
- Hearing loss prevention interventions
Preventing heat stress
Preventing substance misuse
What's new
- Released the free training tool: Keeping cool: Training to reduce heat stress incidents
- Published Self-reported health conditions among male mine workers (American Journal of Industrial Medicine)