# Presentation: 664589

## ExperiencedCoalMinerFatalities(1992 - 2002)

## EXERPTS FROM RECENT FATALITY REPORTS

**After 3 months at **_**____ **_**mine****, a 50-year-old electrician with 30 years of experience was fatally injured.**
**...****43-year old truck driver with 12 years of experience was fatally injured on his ****first trip on the property****.**
**After 2 months at **_**___ **_**mine****, a 31 year-old roof bolting machine operator with 8 years of mining experience was fatally injured.**
**Seven months after transferring to the mine****, a 38 year old continuous mining machine operator was fatally injured**
**...****26-year old continuous mining machine helper, who had been ****working at this mine for four months****, was fatally injured **

**Notes:**
MSHA has noticed that many coal mine fatalities involve experienced miners that are relatively new at the mine where the accident took place

## MSHA Definitions

**EXPERIENCED MINER - a miner who has completed MSHA-approved new miner training and has at least 12 months of mining experience **[30 CFR 48.2(b) & 48.22(b)]
**NEW MINER - a miner who is not an experienced miner **[30 CFR 48.2(c) & 48.22(c)]

## Fatalities vs. Total Mining Experience (1992 - 2002)

**Years Total Mining Experience**

**Number**
**of Fatalities**

**Median = 15 years**
**Total Mining Experience**

**Notes:**
Most fatal accident victims have 15-20 years of mining experience.  This is a reflection of the current miner demographics.

## Fatalities vs. Job Experience(1992 - 2002)

**Years at Job**

**Number**
**of Fatalities**

**Median = 5 years**
**at Job**

**Notes:**
Fatalities decrease with increased time on the job.  Approximately 27% of all coal fatalities occur within the first year on a specific job.

## Fatalities vs. Experience at Mine (1992 - 2002)

**Years Experience at Mine**

**Number**
**of Fatalities**

**Median = 1.5 years**
**at Mine**

**Notes:**
Approximately 41% of all coal fatalities occur within the first year at a specific mine.  Over 57% of all coal fatalities occur within the first two years at the mine.

## Fatalities by Experience at Mine

**CY**

**Number**
**of Fatalities**

**Notes:**
Yearly plot of coal mine fatalities versus experience.

## Fatalities by Experience at Mine

**CY**

**Percentage**
**of Fatalities**

**Average = 59%**

**Notes:**
On a percentage basis, there have been no trends in fatalities versus mine experience.

## Experienced Miner  Fatalities by Type of Mine

**CY**

**Number**
**of Fatalities**

**Notes:**
Approximately 60% of the fatalities with less than one year at the mine occurred underground.

## Issues with Experienced Miners

**Lack of knowledge of mine specific hazards**
**Unfamiliarity with equipment and procedures**
**Real and/or perceived need to be seen as a highly productive worker**
**Decreased life of mines and increased workforce mobility**

**Notes:**
Several conditions seem to contribute to this effect:
Mine specific hazards that are taken for granted by everyone on the property can hurt or kill the new, unaware employee.
Even though a new employee has experience running a different make or model of equipment, these differences may be hazardous until learned.
Rather than take the time to ask questions, the new guy may jump into a situation that is over his (or her) head.

## Experienced Miner Accidents

**Experienced miners who move to different mines are at ****increased**** risk of injury:**
**41% of all fatalities occur during the FIRST YEAR at the mine**
**14% of all fatalities occur during the FIRST WEEK at the mine**

**Notes:**
Experienced miners should take extra precautions to avoid accidents until they become familiar with the specific conditions and practices at the new mine.  

## What Can We Do to Eliminate This Problem?

**Raise industry’s awareness of this observation**
**Emphasize task training on new equipment and mine-specific procedures**
**Improve training  for experienced miners, “Go the Extra Step”**
**Use on-site mentors for the “newly employed experienced miners”**
**Reinforce initial training after several days**

**Notes:**
With very little effort, mine operators can help reduce fatalities in this growing segment of our industry.  

## Things to Do

**Ascertain the employee’s ability to safely operate equipment**
**Ask for training responses to be verbal— eliminate “head nods”. **
**Clearly explain the value you place on working safe and your expectations**
**Spend extra time with contractors to improve training effectiveness**

**Notes:**
These are some suggestions to help focus the experienced miner training

## What Does Industry Get for Their Investment?

**Reduction in accidents/injuries**
**Lower compensation costs**
**Safer and more productive work force**
**More efficient and productive mine**
**Lower costs - improved “bottom line”**

**Notes:**
This is a win-win opportunity for everyone.