1. In 2001, 14,623 mining operations reported employment statistics to the Mine Safety and Health Administration

(MSHA). This was an increase of 210 mining operations compared to 2000. Almost half (49%) were sand and 

gravel mines, followed by stone (29%), coal (15%), nonmetal mines (5%), and metal mines (2%). 

2. Mine operators reported 233,112 employees (or 238,921 full-time equivalent [FTE] workers1) to MSHA. 

• A total of 19.0% of mine operator employees worked underground, and 81.0% worked in surface mines. 

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Among underground mine operator employees, the majority (80.4%) worked in coal mines. 

The largest percentage of surface mine employees worked in stone mines (35.9%). 

3. Of the 77,416 contractor employees (or 41,913 FTE contractor workers) reported to MSHA in 2001, 41.4% were 

coal contractor employees and 58.6% were metal/nonmetal contractor employees. 

4. In 2001, there were 72 fatalities, compared to 84 in 2000. 

The mine fatality rate was 25.6 per 100,000 FTE workers, compared to a fatality rate of 4.9 per 100,000 

employees for all private industry. 

Half the fatalities in 2001 (36) occurred among coal mine operator employees. 

Forty (55.6%) fatalities occurred underground. 

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

The fatality rate among underground employees was 5.7 times greater than the rate for surface employees 

(79.8 per 100,000 FTE workers vs. 13.9 per 100,000 FTE workers). 

Metal operator employees had the highest fatality rate (157.3 per 100,000 FTE workers) among underground 

employees. Among surface employees, the highest fatality rate occurred in metal/nonmetal contractor 

employees (40.3 per 100,000 FTE workers). 

5. There were 9,949 nonfatal lost-time injuries reported to MSHA in 2001. These occurred at a rate of 3.5 injuries

per 100 FTE workers and resulted in a total of 508,888 days lost from work.

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The highest percentage of nonfatal lost-time injuries was due to handling materials (35.8%), slips or fall of 

person (22.9%), and powered haulage (10.2%). 

The underground injury rate was 2.6 times greater than the surface injury rate (7.1 vs. 2.8 per 100 FTE 

workers). Coal contractor employees had the highest nonfatal lost-time injury rate (12.3 per 100 FTE

workers) among underground employees. The highest rate among surface employees was in stone operator 

employees (3.7 per 100 FTE workers). 

The back continued to be the most frequently reported part of the body injured. It accounted for 2,158 

injuries, 117,739 days lost from work, and 23.1% of all days lost. 

6. In 2001, 798 occupational illnesses were reported to MSHA.

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Musculoskeletal disorders associated with repeated trauma accounted for 45.7% (or 365) of reported

occupational illnesses. 

There were 151 cases of hearing loss reported to MSHA (or 18.9% of all occupational illnesses reported). 

Mining operations reported 86 cases of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (“black lung” disease) and 15 cases of 

silicosis to MSHA.

1 FTEs are computed using reported employee hours (2,000 hours = 1 FTE); excludes office workers. 2 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. 3 Because of the complexity of attributing disease causation to the workplace, it is well-accepted that occupational illnesses are underreported.

June 2003

Mining Facts - 2001 
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. 2003-105