Metal Operator Mining Facts - 2002 

1. In 2002, a total of 256 metal mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health 

Administration (MSHA). Metal mines were the smallest mining sector,1

 comprising 1.8% of all mining operations. 

• Gold mines comprised 44.1% (n = 113) of all metal mining operations. Other types of metal mines were copper 

ore (n = 31; 12.1%), iron ore (n = 25; 9.8%), and lead and/or zinc ore (n = 21; 8.2%).

• Nevada is the state with the largest number of metal mines (n = 53; 20.7%). 

2. A total of 25,543 employees, corresponding to 25,938 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees,2 were reported by 

metal mine operators. This is a 15.4% decrease from the number of FTE metal mine employees reported in 2001. 

• Metal mine operator employees accounted for 10% of all employee hours reported to MSHA.

• The largest proportion of metal mine operator employees worked in gold mines (29.9%), followed by copper 

ore mines (23.3%). 

3. Four work-related fatalities occurred in metal mines in 2002, compared to nine in 2001. 

• The metal mine fatality rate was 15.4 per 100,000 FTE employees. 

• The fatality rate was 53.8 per 100,000 FTE employees for underground work locations (n = 2) and 18.1 per 

100,000 FTE employees at surface work locations (n = 2).3

 

4. There were 640 nonfatal lost-time injuries among metal mine employees occurring at a rate of 8.4 per 100 FTE 

employees. These injuries resulted in 31,258 days lost from work.4

• The median number of days lost from work among metal mine employees with nonfatal lost-time injuries was 

20.0 days. 

• The highest injury rate for metal mine operators was 4.0 per 100 FTE employees at underground work 

locations (n = 149), compared to an injury rate of 2.2 at surface work locations (n = 491). 

• The most frequent type of accident for metal mine employees involved handling of materials (41.7%), followed 

by slips or falls (24.1%). These accident types comprised 70.4% of the total days lost from work. 

• Sprains and strains (n = 315) were the most commonly reported injury. They accounted for 45.8% of the 

days lost from work. The back (n = 129; 20.2%) was the most frequently reported part of the body injured 

and accounted for 4,592 days off work. 

• Among metal mine employees, those with a job title of “mechanic/repairman/helper” had the greatest number 

of nonfatal lost-time injuries (n = 180; 28.1%). 

5. A total of 106 cases of occupational illness were reported to MSHA for metal mine employees.5

• The most frequently reported illness involved joint, muscle, or tendon irritation or inflammation (n = 50; 

47.2%). 

• Thirty-four (32.1%) cases of hearing loss or impairment were reported. 

1 Mining sectors: coal operators, metal operators, nonmetal operators, stone operators, sand and gravel operators, coal contractors, and noncoal 

 contractors. 2 Computed using reported employee hours (2,000 hours = 1 FTE); excludes office employees. 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. 5 Because of the complexity of attributing disease causation to the workplace, occupational illnesses may be underreported. 

January 2004
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 

Or visit the NIOSH Mining Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining 

SAFER • HEALTHIER • PEOPLETM

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-124