1

The Aging Workforce: An Emerging Issue in the Mining Industry 

Barbara Fotta and George Bockosh 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

ABSTRACT 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), workforce estimates of median age suggest that the 

median age of the mining workforce, which has been experiencing overall declines in numbers of 

employees, is rising more rapidly than for the overall U.S. civilian labor force. In the absence of 

detailed demographic data for the mining industry, the current study uses injury and illness data reported 

to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to examine differences, over time and by 

commodity, in the proportions of injured or ill workers aged 45 years and older. These data indicate that 

from 1988 to 1998, the percentage of injured or ill older workers (aged 45 years and older) have been 

steadily increasing. The most notable increase occurred at coal mining operations where the proportion 

of injured/ill older workers increased from 24 to 44 percent. A more detailed breakdown of the industry 

by commodity for 1998 showed the highest proportions of older injured/ill workers (over 40%) 

occurring in coal, iron ore, alumina mills, cement, and trona operations. In coal operations, as the 

employment size of the mine operation increased, so did its proportion of older injured/ill workers. 

Also, higher proportions of older injured/ill workers were observed at surface coal work locations than 

at underground locations. The distribution of older injured/ill miners by occupation for several select 

commodities shows the highest proportions for supervisors, electricians, mechanics, and surface 

equipment operators, and the lowest proportions for surface laborers and for underground coal roof 

bolters and scoop operators. With few exceptions, older injured workers have the highest median 

number of days lost per injury when examined by type of mining operation and by occupation. Given 

the high proportions of older injured or ill workers in many sectors of the mining industry, health and 

safety programs must consider the physiological changes associated with aging when evaluating job 

tasks and the working environment. 

 

 

INTRODUCTION 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median age of the U. S. civilian labor force 

is projected to reach a record high of 40.7 in 2008 (Fullerton, 1999). This is a slight increase over the 

previous high of 40.5 attained in 1962, before the baby boomers entered the work force. After 1962, the 

median age declined steadily until 1980 and has been rising since. However, for industry segments such 

as mining, which have been experiencing overall declines in employment, statistics provided by BLS 

indicate that the median age for mining is rising even more rapidly (see Table I). Further, among the 

major sectors of the mining industry, the median age of the coal mining work force, estimated at 45.2 in 

1998 (see Table II), is already well beyond the median age projected for the civilian labor force in 2008. 

For comparison, also provided in Table II are the median ages of injured and ill workers reported to the 

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in 1998. Although the BLS estimates of median age 

within the mining industry are based on relatively small sample sizes obtained from the Current 

Population Survey (CPS), note that both the CPS estimates and the median ages of injured or ill workers 
2

reported to MSHA, show the same relative order of differences in age between the major sectors of the 

mining industry. 

Table I. Median age of the U. S. civilian labor force (Fullerton, 1999) and the mining industry, 

including oil and gas (BLS, 2000), for selected historical years and projected 2008. 

1962 1978 1988 1998 2008 

Labor force....................... 40.5 34.8 35.9 38.7 40.7 

Mining.............................. 42.1 34.9 37.8 41.2 ? 

Table II. Estimates of the median age for sectors of the mining industry (BLS, 2000) from the Current 

Population Survey (CPS) and the median age of injured/ill workers reported to MSHA in 1998. 

 Median age 

Mining sector CPS MSHA 

Oil and gas ............... 41.1 NA 

Coal.......................... 45.2 43 

Metal ........................ 41.3 42 

Nonmetallic.............. 39.1 39 

Nonmetals .......... NA 40 

Stone .................. NA 39 

Sand and Gravel. NA 37 

These statistics are of concern for several reasons. Although most research studies indicate that 

occupational injury rates appear to decline with increasing age, the severity of these injuries appear to 

increase and injured older workers tend to require longer recovery periods (WHO, 1993). 

 

Concerns about the problems of an aging workforce are not confined to the U.S. In many 

industrialized and developing countries, the increases in life expectancy and declining birth rates, has 

resulted in unprecedented increases in the mean age of the population. These increases have impacted 

the mean age of the working population, which is rising rapidly and expected to continue to rise (WHO, 

1993). Increasing concerns about aging and its impact on worker capacity relative to worker demands 

prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to form the Study Group on Aging and Working 

Capacity. The Study Group’s published report defines work capacity to include the physical, mental, 

and social functional abilities necessary to perform a given type of work. The report examines those 

issues related to aging that may diminish worker capacity, because when job demands exceed the work 

capacity of the individual, decreased productivity, job-related stress, disease and disability are likely to 

result. It is therefore important for employers to consider the needs of their aging workers when 

evaluating the safety and health aspects of the workplace. 

Although detailed demographic data for various sectors of the mining industry are not available, the 

comprehensive set of injury and illness data collected by MSHA under 30 CFR Part 50 can be used to 

examine differences in the proportions of older injured or ill workers (aged 45 years or older) in specific 

sectors of the mining industry. The current study uses the MSHA accident/injury/illness files from 1988 

through 1998 to examine trends in the proportions of older injured or ill workers for major sectors of the 

mining industry. Data from1998, the most recent reporting year for which close-out data are available, 

are used to profile differences in the proportions of older injured/ill workers for the various 

commodities. Within coal mining operations, differences in the proportions of these workers are 
3

examined by work location and by operation employment size. Additionally, the proportions of older 

injured/ill workers within various occupations are presented for several select commodities, with 

numbers adequate for comparison. And, finally, differences in recovery time from injuries are examined 

for three age groups, using the median number of lost workdays per incident. These differences are 

presented within commodities and within select occupations. 

METHODS AND DEFINITIONS 

MSHA mine operator accident/injury/illness files for the years 1988 through 1998 were used to 

examine trends in the proportions of injured or ill older workers by year and commodity. MSHA mine 

operator employment and accident/injury/illness files for 1998, the most recently released reporting 

year, were used to summarize mine-level information and to characterize injured and ill workers by 

commodity. The total numbers of employees were computed by summing the average annual number 

(averaged across four quarters) of employees reported for all operational subunits except office 

locations. Similarly, the total number of employee hours, used in the computation of incidence rates, 

was obtained by summing the hours reported for all subunits except office locations. Injuries and 

illnesses occurring in office locations were also excluded from all analyses. Additionally, the 

computations for the percentage of injured or ill employees included only reports of fatal and nonfatal 

injuries and illnesses (designated by MSHA as degrees of injury 1 through 7) to mine operator 

employees with a reported age of 18 through 79. Missing or invalid ages resulted in the exclusion of 

2.9% of cases of injuries or illness in 1998. Similarly, 9% of the reports of injuries or illnesses had 

missing data for the years of total mining experience of the injured/ill person in 1998, and thus were 

excluded from computations involving years of total mining experience. 

The median number of days lost reported for three age groups was examined only for those nonfatal 

injuries resulting in lost workdays during the three-year period from 1996 through 1998. The three most 

recent reporting years were examined to ensure adequate numbers of cases. These lost workday cases 

included those nonfatal injuries that resulted in partial or total permanent disabilities, as well as incidents 

involving actual days away from work and/or days of restricted work activity (designated by MSHA as 

degrees of injury 2 through 5). The number of lost workdays was computed by summing the actual days 

away from work and days of restricted work activity. Statutory days charged for permanently disabling 

injuries were used when days lost were not reported or when the statutory days exceeded the reported 

number of days lost. Lost workday cases with an invalid closing document number (indicating no 

return-to-work date reported) were excluded from the analyses. The invalid closing document number is 

used by MSHA to designate those cases for which the days lost were estimated using an algorithm that 

computes the average number of days lost for similar injuries. This estimate is used when a follow-up 

report from the operator of the actual number of days lost is not received by MSHA prior to a close-out 

of the file for the report year. These cases accounted for about 10% of all lost workday cases used in the 

analyses for the three-year period from 1996 through 1998. 

Mining industry segments were examined separately using MSHA’s designation of canvass class, 

which differentiates the five primary commodities of coal, metal (metallic minerals), nonmetal 

(nonmetallic minerals), stone, and sand and gravel. The commodity classification codes assigned by 

MSHA were used to further differentiate specific commodities within canvass classes (e.g., 

differentiating iron ore, copper, and gold within the metal mining operations). 
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Consistent with recent literature on older workers, with an emphasis on workplace interventions to 

prevent injury, illness or disability among these workers, the term ‘older workers’ is used to designate 

workers aged 45 years and older (Wegman, 1999). 

DISTRIBUTION OF OLDER INJURED OR ILL WORKERS IN MINING 

The annual proportion of injuries and illnesses accounted for by older workers (aged 45 and older) 

from 1988 to 1998 is illustrated in Figure 1 for each of the five classes of mine operators. In 1988, the 

percentage of injuries and illnesses accounted for by older workers differed by less than 5% among the 

five types of operators, ranging from 23% for nonmetal operators to 27% for metal operators. Since 

1988, the gaps between these operators have widened considerably, ranging from a low of 27% for sand 

and gravel operators to a high of 44% for coal mine operators. During this same period, the incident 

rates of injuries and illness have been steadily declining for all five classes of operators. Overall, the 

incidence rate of injuries/illnesses declined by about 36%, from a high of 10.6 injuries/illnesses per 

200,000 employee hours in 1999 to a low of 6.8 in 1999. 

A more detailed breakdown of the major types of mining operations, their general employment 

characteristics, and demographic information of the injured/ill workers reported from those operations in 

1998 is presented in Table III. Among the metal, nonmetal, and stone operations, the proportions of 

injured/ill older workers vary considerably. Iron ore operations and alumina mills report the largest 

proportions of injured/ill older workers, at 46.3% and 44.9 %, respectively. Conversely, the lowest 

proportions of injured/ill older workers occur at dimension stone (17.8%) and sand and gravel 

operations (26.7%). These operations are also among the smallest in terms of average mine size, 

employing fewer than 10 employees per operation. Additionally, these two types of operations report 

the highest proportions of injured/ill workers with one year or less of total mining experience. In fact, in 

this same category, at dimension stone mines the reported proportion (42.4%) is over three times the 

proportion of 12.3% reported for the mining industry overall. Conversely, the proportion of 

Figure 1. Percentage of injured or ill miners, aged 45 years and over, by operator 

canvass class and year, MSHA, 1988-98. 

20

25

30

35

40

45

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Year

Percentage of injured/ill miners aged 45+ 

Coal

Metal

Nonmetal

Stone

Sand&Gravel
5

inexperienced injured/ill workers at coal mining operations (3.9%) is less than one-third of the overall 

rate. These differences are certainly substantial, but should be interpreted with caution. Lower 

proportions of injured/ill inexperienced workers in coal may reflect its declining employment (down 

40% since 1998) as well as the availability of experienced miners for hire, and/or low employee 

turnover. Conversely, the high percentage of injured/ill inexperienced workers at dimension stone 

mines may reflect increasing employment rates and high employee turnover. In fact, both stone and 

sand and gravel operations are most likely to be seasonal operations, reporting lower employment in the 

winter months, which may contribute to a high employee turnover. However, it is also possible that 

these high rates reflect a higher rate of injury for inexperienced workers at these operations. 

Table III. Mine-level characteristics and characteristics of injured or ill workers by commodity, 

MSHA, 1998. 

Mine-level characteristics Injured or ill workers 

Canvass class/ 

Commodity 

Total no. of 

employees 

(thousands) 

No. of 

mines 

Average 

employee 

size 

No. 

injuries/ 

illnesses 

% aged 

45+ 

% 1 yr. 

exp. or 

less 

 

Coal.................................. 85.2 2,459 35 7,543 44.4 3.9 

Anthracite 1.7 202 9 143 44.8 9.8 

Bituminous 83.5 2,257 37 7,400 44.4 3.8 

 

Metal................................ 40.0 337 119 2,440 38.5 11.1 

Iron ore 7.4 30 246 549 46.3 6.0 

Alumina mill 2.9 8 363 287 44.9 16.7 

Lead/zinc ores 1.9 28 68 122 42.6 8.2 

Silver ores 1.7 12 141 134 38.1 20.4 

Copper 11.5 45 255 460 37.4 8.0 

Gold 11.3 158 71 568 35.9 6.8 

Other metals 3.3 56 60 320 24.4 22.1 

 

Nonmetal......................... 23.5 789 30 1,164 34.2 17.7 

Trona, potash, 

borate minerals 

4.5 17 262 204 44.1 8.7 

Phosphate rock 3.4 29 117 129 39.5 16.7 

Clay, common 6.8 236 29 305 31.5 19.1 

Other nonmetals 8.9 507 18 526 30.6 19.9 

 

Stone................................ 68.0 3,808 18 4,262 32.7 21.8 

Cement 10.8 101 107 917 43.8 12.5 

Lime 3.2 66 49 256 37.9 8.5 

Crushed stone 49.2 3,138 16 2,768 30.2 24.4 

Dimension stone 4.7 503 9 321 17.8 42.4 

 

Sand&Gravel.................. 35.2 6,403 5 – 6 1,627 26.7 26.7 

Totals 251.9 13,796 18 17,036 38.2 12.3 
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Distribution of Older Injured or Ill Workers in Coal Mining Operations 

With over 7,500 injuries and illnesses reported by coal mining operations in 1998, 44% of which 

involved workers aged 45 or older, these operations accounted for the largest numbers of older injured 

or ill workers. Within these operations, the proportions of older injured/ill workers vary with the work 

location and with the employment size of the operations (see Table IV). Based on the distribution of 

these workers, proportionately more injured/ill older workers are found in surface work locations than in 

underground locations, and among surface workers proportionately more older injured/ill workers are in 

preparation plants than at surface production operations. It also appears that as the employment size of a 

coal mining operation increases, so do its proportion of older injured/ill workers. 

Table IV. Percentage of injuries and illnesses for workers aged 45 years and older by work location and 

employment size for Bituminous Coal operations (MSHA, 1998). 

Work location/Employment size 

Total no. 

of injuries/ 

illnesses 

% aged 

45+ 

 

Underground................................... 5,397 42.2 

Fewer than 20 employees 271 29.5 

20 – 49 employees 1,202 28.9 

50 – 99 employees 816 27.9 

100 – 249 employees 1,269 43.2 

250 or more employees 1,839 58.5 

 

Surface (excluding prep plants) .... 1,509 49.0 

Fewer than 20 employees 150 44.0 

20 – 49 employees 324 36.7 

50 – 99 employees 278 36.7 

100 – 249 employees 459 58.8 

250 or more employees 298 61.1 

 

Preparation Plants ......................... 488 53.5 

Fewer than 20 employees 105 34.3 

20 – 49 employees 159 47.8 

50 – 99 employees 128 70.3 

100 – 249 employees 35 60.0 

250 or more employees 61 62.3 

These differences in the proportions of older injured/ill workers may reflect the tendency of older 

workers to select out (transfer or terminate) or to be selected out (e.g., due to disability) of particular 

occupations and work environments. Research indicates that older workers are less likely to be involved 

in occupations requiring excessive physical demands or in stressful and dangerous work environments 

(WHO, 1993). In general, underground work locations exhibit all the elements of a stressful and 

dangerous work environment, particularly at small underground operations, which are more likely to 
7

operate in thin coal seams where the working height of the mine further restricts the posture, mobility, 

and visibility of the worker. In terms of risk of injury, historically, both fatal and nonfatal injury rates 

are highest in underground mines than in surface mines or preparation plants. Differences in the 

proportion of older workers by employment size may reflect the ability of larger operations to be more 

flexible in relation to job assignments or task selection within jobs, such that the physical demands on 

the older worker are reduced. Additionally, larger operations may invest more resources in ergonomic 

programs that reduce worker stress related to both job task and the workplace in general. 

Distribution of Older Injured or Ill Workers by Occupation 

The proportion of older injured/ill workers by occupation in 1998 was examined for a select set of 

occupations within five work locations with numbers sufficient for reliable analysis. The proportions of 

older injured/ill workers by occupation are listed in Table V for underground bituminous coal, surface 

bituminous coal, surface crushed stone, cement, and sand and gravel operations. Surface operations 

include preparation plants and mills as well as surface extraction operations such as strip mines and 

quarries. Occupations are listed in order of decreasing proportions of older injured/ill workers. 

In general, the proportion of older injured/ill workers is substantially higher for supervisory 

occupations and electricians than is observed for the operation overall. Although less substantial, the 

proportions of older injured/ill mechanics and surface equipment operators (operators of cranes, bull 

dozers, and front-end loaders) are also higher than the proportions of older injured/ill workers observed 

for the operation overall. Conversely, the lowest percentages of injured/ill older workers are observed 

for laborers in all but underground coal mines. In fact, the proportions of older injured/ill laborers in 

crushed stone, cement, and sand and gravel mines are substantially lower than the overall proportions of 

older injured/ill workers at these operations. This is particularly evident in cement operations where 

43.8% of all injured/ill workers were aged 45 or older, but only 14.2% of the injured/ill laborers were 

older workers. In underground coal, the lowest proportions of injured/ill older workers are observed for 

roof bolters and scoop operators. Roof bolting is physically demanding work, often requiring awkward 

postures and body movements. Additionally, risk of injury to roof bolters by falls of roof is higher than 

for any other occupation (Peters and Randolph, 1991). The lower proportion of injured/ill older scoop 

operators may be due to the higher prevalence of scoops in thin-seam mines, where the low working 

heights require the low clearance afforded by scoops. And, as noted previously, the low working 

heights associated with thin seam mines make these environments particularly stressful for the older 

worker. 

In a study of age and occupational change among underground coal miners, Powell (1973) reported 

considerable differences in the proportion of older workers for different mining occupations. The study 

found proportionately fewer older workers in the most physically demanding and highly paced 

occupations. An increase in the number of miners leaving work or moving from heavier to lighter work 

was markedly noticeable at about the age of 45. 
8

Table V. Percentage of injured or ill workers aged 45 years and older by occupation for five types of 

mining operations (MSHA, 1998). 

Type of operation/Occupation 

Total no. 

of injuries/ 

illnesses

% aged 

45+ 

 

Underground Bituminous Coal ......... 5,403 42.3 

Supervisor 427 54.8 

Electrician/helper/wireman 279 53.4 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 500 48.8 

Belt/conveyor man 326 45.4 

Laborer/utility man 942 45.1 

Continuous miner op 342 38.9 

Shuttle car/ram op 399 38.1 

Continuous miner helper 107 32.7 

Roof bolter op 1,075 29.6 

Scoop/load-haul-dump op 245 26.5 

 

Surface Bituminous Coal.................... 1,997 50.1 

Crane op 83 77.1 

Electrician/helper/wireman 83 63.9 

Supervisor 107 61.7 

Prep plant worker 108 52.8 

Bulldozer op 219 52.1 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 464 51.3 

Truck driver 115 49.6 

Welder 123 44.7 

Laborer/utility man 192 41.7 

 

Surface Crushed Stone ....................... 2,682 30.1 

Supervisor 146 45.9 

Bulldozer op 136 41.2 

Frond-end loader op 161 34.8 

Welder 166 33.1 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 562 31.5 

Truck driver 283 27.9 

Mill worker 437 26.8 

Laborer 371 16.2 

 

Cement................................................. 917 43.8 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 332 52.4 

Mill worker 163 36.8 

Laborer 162 14.2 

 

Sand&Gravel ...................................... 1,627 26.7 

Supervisor 105 42.9 

Front-end loader op 140 33.6 

Mill worker 211 28.4 

Bulldozer op 131 28.2 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 253 27.3 

Truck driver 105 26.7 

Welder 82 20.7 

Laborer 282 14.5 
9

 

AGE DIFFERENCES IN INJURY RECOVERY TIMES 

The total number of valid lost workday incidents for the three-year period from 1996 to 1998 was 

29,227. The number of lost workdays for these incidents varied from one day to 6,000 days for cases of 

total permanent disability. Because a single extremely high score can increase the mean dramatically, 

the median number of days lost for nonfatal injuries resulting in lost time was used to examine 

differences in the number of days lost for three age groups of injured workers (18 - 34, 35 - 44, 45+). 

The median number of days lost for the three age groups is presented by canvass and commodity in 

Table VI. The total number of valid lost workday incidents With the exception of anthracite coal, the 

median number of days lost for injured older workers (aged 45+) consistently exceeds that observed for 

both groups of younger workers (aged 18 - 34 and 35 - 44). With minor exceptions, this trend persists 

within occupational groupings as well (see Table VII). Additionally, the median number of days lost 

shows significant variations among the different types of operations and occupations as well as among 

age groups. 

Although the focus in this study is on workers aged 45 years and older, it is also worth noting that 

the median number of days lost for injured workers aged 35 to 44 exceed those for younger workers in 

most of the commodities and occupations examined. In a study conducted in the New South Wales 

underground coal mining industry, the mine worker’s age was also identified as a significant factor 

associated with occupational injury severity as measured by the number of lost workdays (Hull et al., 

1996). The study also found that the part of the body injured, the type of accident, the source of the 

injury, and the mine worker’s activity at the time of injury contributed to the severity of the injury as 

well. However, what remains unclear is the degree to which the biological aging process contributes to 

the decreased resilience of older workers to recover from injury versus other factors that may accelerate 

the effects of aging, such as the cumulative effects of a poor working environment and the prevalence of 

chronic health conditions (Wegman, 1999). 
10

Table VI. Median number of days lost by commodity and age group for lost workday cases reported to 

MSHA from 1996 to1998. 

Canvass class/ Age group 

Commodity 18 - 34 35 - 44 45+ Total 

 

Coal............................. 8 16 21 16 

Anthracite 12 23 22 18 

Bituminous 8 15 21 16 

 

Metal........................... 8 12 18 12 

Iron ore 7 12 17 13 

Alumina mill 12 14.5 16 14 

Lead/zinc ores 11 25 32.5 22 

Silver ores 6 10 19 8 

Copper 11 18 25 17 

Gold 8 8 12 8 

Other metals 8 12 18 12 

 

Nonmetal.................... 7 11 17 10 

Trona, potash, 

borate minerals 9 19.5 23 17 

Phosphate rock 13 17 21 18 

Clay, common 7 8 15 8 

Other nonmetals 7 10 13 8 

 

Stone........................... 7 10 13 9 

Cement 8 11 13 11 

Lime 10 14 18 14 

Crushed stone 6 10 12 9 

Dimension stone 6 5 11 6 

 

Sand&Gravel............. 6 8 11 8 

Totals 7 13 18 12 
11

Table VII. Median number of days lost by age group, commodity, and occupation for lost workday 

cases reported to MSHA from 1996 to 1998. 

Age group 

Type of operation/Occupation 18 - 34 35 - 44 45+ Total 

 

Underground Bituminous Coal ....... 8 16 22 16 

Supervisor 20 14 25.5 20 

Electrician/helper/wireman 6 14 12.5 13 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 11 17 22 19 

Belt/conveyor man 5 16 20 15 

Laborer/utility man 7 18 21 17 

Continuous miner op 20.5 15 22 18 

Shuttle car/ram op 7 11 20.5 12 

Continuous miner helper 7 21 21 19 

Roof bolter op 9 14 24 15 

Scoop/load-haul-dump op 6.5 19 21 15 

 

Surface Bituminous Coal.................. 6 14 19 14 

Crane op NC 15 24 18.5 

Electrician/helper/wireman 10.5 24 22 20 

Supervisor NC 19.5 17 18 

Prep plant worker 7 18 21 17 

Bulldozer op 7 11 19.5 13 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 6 15 17 14.5 

Truck driver 6 16 28 15 

Welder 11 13 20.5 17 

Laborer/utility man 5 13 18.5 10 

 

Surface Crushed Stone ..................... 6 10 12 9 

Supervisor 14 7.5 14 10.5 

Bulldozer op 6 12 8.5 8.5 

Frond-end loader op 7 7.5 10 7.5 

Welder 8 12 13.5 12 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 7 11 15.5 11 

Truck driver 6 9 10 8 

Mill worker 7 11 12 9 

Laborer 5 9 12 7 

 

Cement............................................... 8 11 13 11 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 7 11 13 11 

Mill worker 10 10 14.5 11.5 

Laborer 7 12 11.5 9 

 

Sand&Gravel .................................... 6 8 11 8 

Supervisor 6 8 22 10 

Front-end loader op 6.5 11 18 8 

Mill worker 7 8 10 8 

Bulldozer op 6.5 7.5 24 10 

Mechanic/repairman/helper 6 9 10 8 

Truck driver 6 8 9 8 

Welder 9 9 8.5 9 

Laborer 5.5 9 9.5 7 

NC – not computed (fewer than 10 observations) 
12

SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION 

The current study identified increasing trends in the proportions of older injured or ill workers over 

the past decade for various sectors of the mining industry. The most recent release of the MSHA 

injury/illness data, the 1998 reporting year, indicates that the highest concentrations of older injured or 

ill workers occur in coal, iron ore, alumina mills, cement, and trona operations. Coal operations account 

for a substantial portion of the injuries and illnesses reported for older workers. Within these operations, 

the distribution of older injured/ill workers indicates that the highest proportions are found at large 

surface operations, while the lowest proportions occur in small underground mines. 

In general, among the different occupations examined, higher proportions of older injured/ill 

workers were observed for supervisors, electricians, mechanics, and surface equipment operators 

(excluding truck drivers). Conversely, the lowest proportions of older injured or ill workers occurred for 

the occupations designated as laborers at surface operations. And in underground coal mines, the 

occupations of roof bolters and scoop operators had the lowest percentages of older injured/ill workers. 

Regardless of occupation or type of operation, the median number of days lost from work due to injury 

was higher for older workers than for younger workers. 

Given the relatively high proportions of older injured/ill workers in the mining industry, particularly 

in coal, occupational health and safety programs need to address the problems of an aging workforce. 

Physiological changes associated with aging that may impact the capacity of older workers include 

decreases in the sensory functions (particularly auditory and visual senses), in the motor functions 

(muscular strength and endurance, reaction time), and in cardiorespiratory functions (aerobic power) 

(Robertson, 1998). However, researchers are quick to point out that these changes with age are highly 

variable and should not be applied indiscriminately to all aging workers (Brant et al., 1994). To prevent 

premature declines in work capacity among aging workers, the World Health Organization (1993) 

recommends that health and safety programs target three primary factors for intervention: 

1. Excessive physical demands including static muscular work, lifting and carrying, repetitive 

movements, and awkward postures; 

2. Stressful and dangerous work environments with a high risk of injury, or that are poorly lit or 

expose workers to extreme temperatures; 

3. Poor work organization resulting in conflicts of responsibility and poor work planning or rigid 

working conditions. 

Designing and applying effective interventions for older workers should be of critical importance in 

mining health and safety. Although the issue of an aging workforce is more urgent for some sectors of 

the mining industry than others, as workers continue to age, the health and safety of aging workers will 

be of increasing concern to all segments of mining. 

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Fullerton HN. Labor force projections to 2008: steady growth and changing composition. Monthly 

Labor Review, November, 1999. 
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Hull BP, Leigh J, Driscoll JM. Factors associated with occupational injury severity in the New South 

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under 30 CFR Part 50. Denver, CO: U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, 

Office of Injury and Employment Information, 1988-1998. 

Peters RH, Randolph, RF. Miners’ views about why people go under unsupported roof and how to stop 

them. U.S. Dept of Interior (USBM), Information Circular #9300, 1991, 59 pp. 

Powell M. Age and occupational change among coal-miners. Occupational Psychology, 1973, 47:37-49. 

Robertson A, Tracy CS. Health and productivity of older workers. Scandinavian Journal of Work, 

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Wegman DH. Older workers. Occupational Medicine: State of the art reviews, 1999, 14(3):537-557, 

Philadephia, Hanley & Belfus, Inc. 

WHO, Aging and working capacity. WHO Technical Report Series 835, Geneva: World Health 

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