Coal Operator Mining Facts - 2001 

1. In 2001, a total of 2,144 coal mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA). Coal mines comprised 14.7% of all mining operations. 

• Bituminous mines comprised 92.0% (n=1,972) and anthracite mines 8.0% (n=172) of coal mining operations. 

• More than 71% of coal mines were located in three states: Kentucky (29.5%), West Virginia (21.3%), and 

Pennsylvania (20.6%). 

2. A total of 75,845 employees, corresponding to 80,858 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees,1 were reported by 

coal mine operators to MSHA. This represents a 7.2% increase in FTE employees from 2000. 

• Coal operators comprised 28.8% of all employee hours reported to MSHA. This was the highest percentage of 

employee hours reported among all mining sectors.

2

• Coal operator employees worked in underground operations (46.1%), surface production operations (42.6%),3

and preparation plants (11.3%). 

3. Thirty-six work-related fatalities occurred among coal operator employees in 2001, compared to 28 in 2000. 

• Fatalities among coal operator employees accounted for 50% of all mining fatalities in 2001. 

• The coal operator fatality rate was 44.5 fatalities per 100,000 FTE employees. The underground fatality 

rate, where the majority of fatalities occurred (n=31), was 83.2 fatalities per 100,000 FTEs. This compares 

to 11.5 per 100,000 FTEs (n=5) for surface employees. 

• An explosion in an underground coal mine in Alabama claimed the lives of 13 miners in 2001.

4. There were 3,907 nonfatal lost-time injuries among coal employees occurring at a rate of 4.8 injuries per 100 

FTE employees. These injuries resulted in 236,451 days lost from work.

4 

• The mean and median days lost from work among coal operator employees with nonfatal lost-time injuries were 

60.5 and 23.0 days, respectively. 

• The highest injury rate was found in underground work locations (7.6 injuries per 100 FTE operator 

employees), compared to injury rates of 2.8 and 2.3 per 100 FTE operator employees for preparation plant and 

surface production locations, respectively. 

• The most frequent type of accident for coal operator employees involved handling of materials (33.3%), 

followed by slips or falls (19.4%) and falls of ground (12.7%). The most severe (as measured by the median 

number of days lost) were associated with powered haulage (median=29.5), slips or falls (median=27.5), falls of

ground (median=24), machinery (median=22), and handling of materials (median=21). 

• Sprains and strains were the most frequently reported nature of injury (43.4%). The back was the most

frequently reported part of the body injured (22.8). 

• Roof/rock bolter occupations accounted for the greatest number and percentage of nonfatal lost-time injuries

(n=632; 22%) in coal operator employees injured underground. 

5. In 2001, 424 cases of occupational illness were reported to MSHA for coal operator employees. 

• The most frequently reported illness was joint, muscle, or tendon irritation or inflammation (39.4%).

• Ninety (21.2%) illnesses were reported as hearing loss or impairment.

• Seventy-five (17.7%) cases of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis were reported in 2001. 

1 Computed using reported employee hours (2,000 hours = 1 FTE); excludes office employees. 2 Mining sectors: coal operators, metal operators, nonmetal operators, stone operators, sand and gravel operators, coal contractors, and noncoal 

 contractors. 3 Surface production operations include strip mines, surface operations at underground mines (excluding preparation plants), auger mining, culm 

 banks, dredge, and surface shops and yards. 4 Includes actual days away from work and/or days of restricted work activity. For permanently disabling injuries only, statutory days charged by 

 MSHA were used if they exceeded the total lost workdays. 

April 2003
Delivering on the Nation's Promise:

Safety and health at work for all people 

Through research and prevention 

For information about occupational safety and health topics contact NIOSH at: 

 1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674) 

 Fax: 513-533-8573 

 E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov 

 www.cdc.gov/niosh 

SAFER • HEALTHIER • PEOPLETM

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-129