Coal Contractor Mining Facts – 2003

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) defines an independent contractor as "any person, partnership, 

corporation, subsidiary of a corporation, firm, association or other organization that contracts to perform services or 

construction at a mine." Contractors that perform specific types of work are required to report the number of employees 

who perform work at coal mines and at noncoal mines. 

 

1. In 2003, a total of 2,633 contracting companies reported employment at coal mines to MSHA. 

 

2. A total of 28,672 coal contractor employees, corresponding to 16,098 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, were 

reported to MSHA in 2003. This represents a 4.1% decrease in FTE coal contractor employees from 2002.

1

• The highest percentage of coal contractor employees was found in surface production operations (63.2%), followed 

by preparation plants (25.1%) and underground operations (11.7%).2

 

3. Eight work-related fatalities occurred among coal contractor employees in 2003, compared to seven in 2002. 

• In 2003, coal contractor employees had a fatality rate of 49.7 fatalities per 100,000 FTE employees, compared to 

a fatality rate of 29.2 fatalities per 100,000 FTE coal operator employees. 

• The underground work location fatality rate was 212.8 per 100,000 FTE employees in 2003 (n = 4) compared to the 

2002 fatality rate of 142.2 (n = 3). 

• The fatality rate for preparation plants was 74.2 per 100,000 FTE employees (n = 3) and 9.8 per 100,000 FTE 

employees for surface work locations (n = 1). 

4. There were 441 nonfatal lost-time injuries among coal contractor employees occurring at a rate of 2.7 injuries per 

100 FTEs in 2003. A total of 32,809 days lost from work resulted from these injuries.

3

 

• For coal contractor employees, the median number of days lost from work as a result of nonfatal lost-time injuries 

was 22. The median was 31 days for coal mine operator employees. 

• The highest injury rate among coal contractor employees was found in underground coal operations 

(9.9 injuries per 100 FTE employees). 

• The most frequently reported types of accidents among coal contractor employees were handling material 

(n = 154; 34.9%) and slips or falls (n = 108; 24.5%). Among the most frequently reported types of accident

(greater than 10% of total), the most severe injuries (as measured by the median number of days lost) were 

associated with powered haulage (n = 54, median = 42.5). 

• Sprains and strains were the most frequently reported nature of injury (n = 166), resulting in 12,561 days lost 

from work. 

• The back was the most frequently reported body part injured (n = 83, 18.8%).4

• Among coal contractor employees, those with the MSHA job title of “laborer/utilityman/bull gang” had the 

greatest number of nonfatal lost-time injuries (n = 111; 25.2%). 

5. Thirteen cases of occupational illness in coal contractor employees were reported to MSHA in 2003.5 There were five

cases of black lung (coal workers' pneumoconiosis); four cases of joint, tendon, or muscle inflammation or irritation; 

two cases of hearing impairment; and one case each of dermatitis and heat stroke. 

 Note: All analyses exclude office employees. 1 Computed using reported employee hours (2,000 hours = 1 FTE). 2 Surface production operations include strip mines, surface operations at underground mines, preparation plants, mills, auger mining, culm banks, 

 dredge, and surface shops and yards. 

3 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. 4

 MSHA only reports the most severely injured part of body for accidents involving injury to multiple body parts. 5

 Because of the complexity of attributing disease causation to the workplace, occupational illnesses may be underreported. 

February 2005
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. 2005–115