Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
Search
            ×
                        Mining
                        Mining
                            NIOSH
                            All CDC
                    Submit
                For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
                Advanced Search
            Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Mining Feature: New National Survey of the U.S. Mining Population Published
Keywords: Data collection and recording Experienced workers Independent contractors Mine operators Miners 
 Mining types and methods Surveys
Friday, December 14, 2012
National Survey Part 1Part 1: Employees
The most comprehensive survey of our nation’s mining population has just been released, providing a current snapshot of this segment of the U.S. workforce. The “National Survey of the Mining Population” represents a major effort to design and conduct a survey of this type with the result of bringing the mining workforce and mining operations into sharper focus. Prior to this survey, certain aspects of the mining population were not previously included in surveys—such as the job activities of contractor employees in mining.
It has been more than 20 years since publication of the last survey of the U.S. mining population. The last mining survey was conducted in 1986 by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The new national survey, conducted in 2008 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR), is now published in two NIOSH Information Circulars (IC 9527 and IC 9528).
Questionnaires were sent to randomly selected mining operations in the five major mining sectors (coal, metal, nonmetal, stone, and sand and gravel). A total of 737 mining operations returned completed questionnaires and reported data for 9,008 employees.
The overarching goal of the new survey is to improve NIOSH’s surveillance capability related to the occupational risks in the mining industry. The specific aims of the survey were to: (1) understand the demographic and occupational characteristics of mine operator employees, (2) obtain denominator data for at-risk population subgroups, (3) obtain mine-level information on selected variables, and (4) estimate the number of independent contractor employees in mining and the type of work they perform.
NIOSH’s surveillance of the mining population will provide up-to-date data on mine workers currently working in the five major sectors of the U.S. mining industry. Also, survey results will be used to guide mining research and training programs for workers in various mining occupations. According to Linda McWilliams, Principle Investigator of the national survey project, “With denominator data now available, it will be possible to calculate injury rates for various demographic groups (gender, mining experience) and occupations (roof bolters, electricians). This will allow the customization of safety and health interventions for specific subgroups of mine workers to help improve their working conditions.”
National Survey Part 2Part 2: Mines
The new National Survey report includes two volumes, “Part I: Employees” and “Part II: Mines,” which represent the two sets of data collected from the survey respondents. The information presented in “Part I: Employees” summarizes demographic and occupational characteristics of employees in the U.S. mining industry including employee gender, age, level of education, ethnicity, race, job experience, primary work location, and occupational categories.
The “Part II: Mines” portion of the survey includes mine-level data related to employee training; training materials and methods; frequency of safety training; work schedules; shift work schedules; job activities of independent contractor employees; communication devices and systems; personal locators, trackers, and devices; emergency early warning methods; and information on mine rescue teams.
These two volumes now bring the current mining workforce and mining operations into sharper focus, and enable OMSHR researchers to better target health and safety goals. Going forward, detailed national surveys of this type should prove helpful in pinpointing the demographic and occupational characteristics of the current mining workforce and will contribute significantly to NIOSH’s research efforts in making U.S. mining operations safer work environments.
See Also
Announcing New Publication on Refuge Alternatives
Health Conditions in Retired Manual Labor Miners and Oil and Gas Extraction Workers: National Health Interview Survey, 2007-2017
I Can't Get Enough Air! Proper Self-contained Self-rescuer Usage
National Survey of the Mining Population: Part I: Employees
National Survey of the Mining Population: Part II: Mines
Pillar Stability Issues Based on a Survey of Pillar Performance in Underground Limestone Mines
Refuge Chamber Training Products and Guidance
Review of Recent Research on Organizational and Behavioral Factors Associated With Mine Safety
Task Analysis
Teaching Miners: Breaking the Barriers to Learning
Technology News 535 - NIOSH Releases New Educational Video: Escape from Farmington No. 9: An Oral History
Technology News 537 - NIOSH Develops New Mine Refuge Chamber Training
Page last reviewed: December 14, 2012
Page last updated: December 14, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate Mining
        Site BrowserSafety and Health TopicsData & StatisticsMethodologyMine DisastersMSHA Data FilesMine & Mineworker ChartsTools & PublicationsTools You Can UsePublicationsNews & ArticlesResearch ProgramNORA Mining CouncilStrategic PlanMining Program, 2019-2023Miner Health Program, 2020-2030ProjectsContractsFunding OpportunitiesMining LinksAbout UsContact NIOSH MiningEmploymentFacilitiesHistoryVisitor Information NIOSH Homepage
 NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue