Metal Operator Mining Facts – 2003

1. In 2003, a total of 258 metal mining operations reported employment to the Mine Safety and Health Administration 

(MSHA). Metal mines were the smallest mining sector, comprising 1.8% of all mining operations.1

 

• Gold mines comprised 44.2% (n = 114) of all metal mining operations. Other common types of metal mines were 

iron ore (n = 29; 11.2%), copper ore (n = 28; 10.9%), and lead and/or zinc ore (n = 21; 8.1%). 

• Nevada had the largest number of metal mines (n = 48; 18.6%) followed by Alaska (n = 29; 11.2%). 

2. A total of 24,648 employees, corresponding to 24,468 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, were reported by metal 

mine operators.2

 This is a 5.7% decrease from the number of FTE metal mine employees reported in 2002. 

• Metal mine operator employees accounted for 9.5% of all employee hours reported to MSHA. 

• The median number of employees at metal mining operations was 12. 

• The largest percentage of metal mine operator employees worked in gold mines (29.6%), followed by copper ore 

mines (22.5%) and iron ore mines (21.4%). 

3. One work-related fatality occurred in metal mines in 2003, compared to four in 2002. 

• The metal mine fatality rate was 4.1 per 100,000 FTE employees. 

• The single fatality occurred in a preparation plant or mill. The fatality rate among metal employees at

preparation plants and mills was 9.6 per 100,000 FTEs. 

4. There were 579 nonfatal lost-time injuries among metal mine employees occurring at a rate of 2.4 per 100 FTE 

employees. These injuries resulted in 21,139 days lost from work.

3

• The median number of days lost from work among metal mine employees with nonfatal lost-time injuries was 18 

days. 

• The highest injury rate for metal mine operators was 4.1 per 100 FTE employees at underground work locations (n 

= 149), compared to an injury rate of 2.1 at surface work locations (n = 432).

4

• The most frequent type of accident for metal mine employees involved handling of materials 

(34.5%; n = 200), followed by slips or falls (30.9%; n = 179). Slips and falls were among the most severe accident 

types as assessed by the median number of days lost (median = 25). 

• Sprains and strains (n = 303) were the most commonly reported injury. They accounted for 56.9% of the days 

lost from work. The back (n = 129; 22.3%) was the most frequently reported part of the body injured and 

accounted for 5,436 lost work days.5

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

number of nonfatal lost-time injuries (n = 147; 25.4%). 

5. A total of 63 cases of occupational illness were reported to MSHA for metal mine employees.6

• The most frequently reported illness was joint, muscle, or tendon irritation or inflammation (n = 37; 58.7%). 

• Fifteen (23.8%) cases of hearing loss or impairment were reported. 

 Note: All analyses exclude office employees, except for the total number of metal mining operations. 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). 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 Surface production operations include strip mines, surface operations at underground mines, preparation plants, mills, auger mining, culm banks, 

 dredge, and surface shops and yards. 

5 MSHA only reports the most severely injured part of body for accidents involving injury to multiple body parts. 6

 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. 2005–116