U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Coal Mining Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities in 2006

by James B. Rice and Jill A. Janocha

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Originally Posted: June 27, 2008

In the coal mining industry, which has higher incidence rates for both fatalities and nonfatal injuries and illnesses than the

private sector as a whole, the rate of nonfatal incidents declined from 2003 to 2006; the rate of fatalities in the industry

declined from 2004 to 2005, but then increased in 2006. In addition, coal miners were more likely to suffer a nonfatal injury

requiring days away from work in 2006 than were all private industry workers, and fatal incidents in coal mining were more

likely to involve multiple fatalities than similar incidents in other industries.

Introduction

The past 2 years have witnessed several high profile coal mine incidents that led to injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Names

like Sago, Crandall Canyon, and Darby--where there were a combined 23 fatalities--entered the national consciousness

when incidents at these mines received widespread coverage in the U.S. media.1 Congress responded to the Sago and

Darby mine accidents with the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006, which charged

mines with developing and updating emergency response plans and established a competitive grant program for new mine

safety technology.2

According to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), coal mining is part of the mining sector, along with

other mining and extractive industries, such as oil and gas.3 Coal mining is further divided into bituminous coal underground

mining, bituminous coal and lignite surface mining, and anthracite mining. In 2006, bituminous coal underground mining

employed slightly more than half of all coal mining industry workers. Anthracite mining had less than 1 percent of total

employment in coal mining.

The regulation of mines in the United States is handled by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), while mine

safety research is conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).4 NIOSH activities in this

area of research began in 1997, when it took responsibility for the Health and Safety Research Programs, which had been

part of the U.S. Bureau of Mines.5

Coal mining is a relatively dangerous industry. Employees in coal mining are more likely to be killed or to incur a nonfatal

injury or illness, and their injuries are more likely to be severe, than workers in private industry as a whole. This article reports

on 2006 data from two BLS programs: the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and the Census of Fatal

Occupational Injuries (CFOI). Nonfatal Injuries And Illnesses6

Data on mining are provided to the BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which has different recordkeeping

requirements than the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).7 Although these differences mean there is

some loss of comparability between the injuries and illnesses data for mining and those for other industries, comparing coal

mining with other industries nevertheless yields some interesting results.

In 2006, the coal mining industry reported 4,600 injuries and illnesses--a rate of 4.8 per 100 full-time workers. This is slightly

higher than the rate of 4.4 in private industry as a whole. Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining, on the other hand, has a

lower rate than all private industry, at 2.3. Bituminous coal underground mining has a rate of 7.1 per 100 full-time workers,

and anthracite mining has a rate of 5.0 per 100 full-time workers.

More serious injuries and illnesses generally require days away from work to give the worker time to recuperate. The

incidence rate for cases involving days away from work in coal mining was 294.8 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2006, while
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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the rate for all private industry was 127.8. Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining had a similar rate to all private industry,

at 131.4. The rate in bituminous coal underground mining was 444.7, and the rate in anthracite mining was 358.6 per 10,000

full-time workers. (See chart 1.)

The median number of days away from work due to injury or illness is a measure of the severity of such cases. In coal

mining, the median number of days away from work was 29 in 2006, compared with 7 days for all private industry. The

median number of days away from work in the bituminous coal and lignite surface mining industry was 24 days, while in the

bituminous coal underground mining industry the median was 31 days. In nearly every case, the nature of the injury and the

event or exposure is more severe when it occurs in underground mines as opposed to surface mines. (See table 1 and table

2.)

Fractures occurred in the coal mining industry at a rate of 50.4 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2006, compared with a rate of

10.2 for workers in all private industry. In bituminous underground mining, the rate was 79.9. The rate of injuries in the coal

mining industry with machines as the source was 36.9, which is dramatically higher than the rate (8.4) for all private industry.

The rate of injuries in cases in which the source was chemicals or chemical products was 39.3 per 10,000 full-time workers,

while the comparable rate for all private industry was 2.1. (In the BLS safety and health statistics programs, coal is classified

as a chemical.) Of the 350 cases in which coal was the source of the injury, the majority (230 cases) involved workers who

were struck by falling coal.

Nearly all of the injuries or illnesses in this industry group affected workers whose occupations dealt directly with coal:

construction and extractive occupations suffered 62 percent of the injuries and illnesses; transportation and material moving

occupations had 21 percent; and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations had 13 percent. Three specific

occupations accounted for nearly 50 percent of all coal mining injuries: mine roof bolters, other extraction workers, and

industrial machinery mechanics. Three other material moving occupations made up nearly 15 percent of the injuries. These

were conveyor operators and tenders, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, and shuttle car operators.

Table 3 shows the number of injuries in the coal mining industry to workers in extractive occupations by nature of injury. The

share of injuries that involves sprains or strains is roughly the same as in all private industry (around 40 percent), but

fractures make up a much larger share of the injuries in mining (20 percent) than they do in all private industry (8 percent).

Over the past 4 years, coal mining and two of its three constituent industries--bituminous coal and lignite surface mining and

bituminous coal underground mining--experienced declines in their rates of injuries and illnesses. The rate for anthracite

mining declined from 2003 to 2005, but then rose from 2005 to 2006. Because it is a very small industry, anthracite mining is

subject to larger swings in its injury and illness rate. (See chart 2.)

Fatal Injuries8

The fatality rate for the entire mining industry, including oil and gas extraction, was 28.1 per 100,000 workers in 2006. The

number of fatalities in the industry increased by 21 percent over the year, from 159 fatalities in 2005 to 192 fatalities in 2006.9

In the private mining industry, excluding oil and gas extraction, there were 67 fatalities in 2006, 47 of which were in coal

mining, which averaged 25 fatalities per year from 2003 to 2005. (See chart 3.) Incidents involving multiple fatalities

(including the Sago incident) accounted for 21 of the 47 coal mining fatalities in 2006.

The fatality rate for coal mining in 2006 was 49.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers, up from a rate of 26.8 recorded in 2005. The

fatality rate for total private industry workers in 2006 was 4.3. (See chart 4.)

Of the 47 coal mining fatalities recorded in 2006, 20 (43 percent) were due to fires and explosions, 16 (34 percent) resulted

from contact with objects and equipment, and 9 (19 percent) were transportation incidents. (See chart 5.) There were no

fatalities involving fires or explosions published in 2005.10 In 2005, 55 percent of the fatalities were from contact with objects

and equipment and 36 percent were transportation incidents.

West Virginia had the most coal mining fatalities in 2006, accounting for nearly half (49 percent) of all fatal injuries in the

industry. West Virginia was followed by Kentucky, which accounted for 30 percent of the coal mining fatalities in 2006. In
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2005, Kentucky accounted for 36 percent of all coal mining fatalities, West Virginia accounted for 23 percent, and

Pennsylvania accounted for 18 percent. These three States also had the highest proportions of total coal mining employment

in 2005.11

In 2006, 33 of the 47 fatalities in coal mining (70 percent) were in bituminous coal underground mining. (See chart 6.) Fires

and explosions were the most frequent fatal event in this industry, with 17 fatalities, followed by 11 cases involving contact

with objects and equipment and 5 transportation incidents. The number of fatalities (33) in bituminous coal underground

mining in 2006 was almost 5 times the number of fatalities (7) reported in 2005. Contact with objects and equipment was the

leading fatal event in this industry, accounting for 57 percent of all fatalities in 2006.

Of the 14 fatalities that occurred in the other coal mining industries in 2006, there were 5 recorded in bituminous coal and

lignite surface mining in 2006. The remaining 9 coal mining fatalities were either in anthracite mining or coal mining that could

not be specified further. Among these 14 fatalities, the two most frequent fatal events were contact with objects and

equipment (5 fatalities) and transportation incidents (4 fatalities).

As shown in chart 7, nearly all of the fatal injuries suffered by workers in coal mining in 2006 were the result of multiple

traumatic injuries (49 percent) or other traumatic injuries (45 percent). Among the other traumatic injuries, 71 percent were

from poisonings or toxic effects--the Sago mine disaster alone accounted for 80 percent of such cases.

In 2005, the nature of fatal injuries was quite different. Fifty-five percent of the fatalities in 2005 were multiple traumatic

injuries, and 41 percent were other traumatic injuries. However, of the other traumatic injuries, none came from poisonings or

toxic effects, while 56 percent came from internal injuries, and 33 percent came from asphyxiations and suffocations.

The principal source of the fatal injuries in coal mining in 2006 was chemicals and chemical products. Chemicals and

chemical products, which includes coal, accounted for 17 fatalities in 2006 (12 of which were from the Sago mine disaster),

but none in 2005. In 2005, the top source of fatal injuries was vehicles, with 9 fatalities. The second most common source in

2005 and 2006 was structures and surfaces. These accounted for 11 of the fatalities in 2006 and 6 of the fatalities in 2005.

Machinery was the source of 7 fatalities in 2006 and 4 fatalities in 2005. Chemicals and chemical products was the

secondary source of 18 of the fatalities in 2006, but none in 2005.

Workers aged 45 to 54 years old accounted for 40 percent of all coal mining fatalities in 2006. As shown in table 4, the

majority (72 percent) of the fatalities that occurred in the coal mining industry in 2006 came in four occupations; among these

four occupations, mining roof bolters experienced the most fatalities (15), accounting for 32 percent of coal mining fatalities.

Conclusion

Over the past 4 years, there has been a decline in the incidence rate of injuries and illnesses in the coal mining industry. The

same cannot be said for fatalities in the industry; after a decrease from 2004 to 2005, the fatality rate increased in 2006.

Many of the coal mining fatalities in 2006 were multiple-fatality incidents. The coal mining industry has higher incidence rates

for both fatalities and injuries and illnesses than the total private sector. Workers in the coal mining industry are much more

likely to suffer an injury requiring days away from work, and these injuries require a median of 29 days away from work to

recover, much higher than the 7 days needed in all private industry.

James B. Rice

Economist, Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Telephone: (202) 691-6502; E-mail: Rice.James@bls.gov. Jill A. Janocha

Economist, Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Telephone: (202) 691-6217; E-mail: Janocha.Jill@bls.gov. Notes

1 See "Historical Data on Mine Disasters in the United States," Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), on the Internet at http://

www.msha.gov/MSHAINFO/FactSheets/MSHAFCT8.HTM (visited January 21, 2008).
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2 "Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006," on the Internet at http://www.msha.gov/MinerAct/

MineActAmmendmentSummary.asp (visited January 21, 2008).

3 See the BLS NAICS page at http://www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.

4 For more information on MSHA, see the U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration website at http://www.msha.gov;

for more information on NIOSH, see the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

website at http://www.cdc.gov/NIOSH/.

5 See "History of the Mining Program," National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/

niosh/mining/aboutus/history.htm (visited January 21, 2008).

6 All of the figures in the nonfatal injuries and illness section are for private industry only--all government workers (Federal, State, and local)

and self-employed workers are excluded.

7 MSHA's recordkeeping guidelines do not reflect the changes in recordkeeping the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

made to its recordkeeping requirements in 2002. OSHA and MSHA guidelines differ on counting days away from work and recordability of

recurrence of injuries. More details on OSHA recordkeeping can be found at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/index.html. More details on

MSHA recordkeeping can be found at http://www.msha.gov/regsinf2.htm. 8 Numbers of fatal injuries are for private industry unless otherwise noted. However, fatality rates are for all ownership types (private industry,

government, and self-employment).

9 These figures are for all industry ownership types (private, government, and self-employed).

10 No data reported or data do not meet publication criteria.

11 In 2005, West Virginia employed 17,374 coal mining workers, Kentucky employed 15,409 coal mining workers, and Pennsylvania employed

7,415 coal mining workers. Employment figures are from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The QCEW page of

the BLS website is located at http://www.bls.gov/cew/home.htm.
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Table 1. Number, incidence rate(1), and median days away from work(2) of occupational injuries and illnesses

involving days away from work(3) in all private industry, bituminous coal and ignite surface mining, and bituminous

coal underground mining, by selected nature in private industry for All United States, 2006

Nature of the injury or

illness

Total, all private industry 212111 Bituminous coal and

lignite surface mining(4)

212112 Bituminous coal

underground mining(4)

Total Cases Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

All Selected Natures 1,183,500 127.8 7 590 131.4 24 2,160 444.7 31

0 Traumatic Injuries and

Disorders 1,103,270 119.2 7 530 118.7 23 2,020 414.8 30

01 Traumatic injuries to

bones- nerves- spinal

cord

104,470 11.3 29 90 19.4 49 400 82.6 51

012 Fractures 94,110 10.2 28 90 18.9 51 390 79.9 51

02 Traumatic injuries to

muscles- tendonsligaments- joints- etc.477,360 51.6 8 260 57.4 20 930 191.2 33

021 Sprains- strainstears 472,740 51.1 8 260 57.4 20 930 191.2 33

03 Open wounds 130,800 14.1 4 50 10.9 10 200 41.6 12

031 Amputations 7,990 0.9 22 - - - 20 4.1 62

034 Cuts- lacerations 99,460 10.7 4 40 8.7 5 140 29.4 12

037 Punctures- except

bites 15,750 1.7 3 - - - 40 8.0 8

04 Surface wounds and

bruises 125,360 13.5 3 60 12.2 4 310 64.4 12

043 Bruisescontusions 101,260 10.9 4 50 10.9 5 300 61.1 13

05 Burns 26,050 2.8 4 - - - 30 5.1 6

Footnotes:

(1) Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were calculated as: (N/EH) X 20,000,000

where, 

N = number of injuries and illnesses, 

EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year, 

20,000,000 = base for 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).

(2) Median days away from work is the measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with days

away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a specified median. Median days away from work are

represented in actual values.

(3) Days away from work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without restricted work activity.

(4) Data for mining operators in this industry are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Independent mining contractors are excluded. These data do not reflect the changes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates in

other industries.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that do not meet publication guidelines or data for incidence rates less than .05 per 10,000 full-time workers. The

scientifically selected probability sample used was one of many possible samples, each of which could have produced different estimates. A

measure of sampling variability for each estimate is available upon request.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Nature of the injury or

illness

Total, all private industry 212111 Bituminous coal and

lignite surface mining(4)

212112 Bituminous coal

underground mining(4)

Total Cases Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

08 Multiple traumatic

injuries and disorders 45,890 5.0 10 20 4.0 43 40 8.6 21

080 Multiple traumatic

injuries and disordersunspecified2,830 0.3 24 20 3.8 43 40 8.6 21

09 Other traumatic

injuries and disorders 142,080 15.3 7 50 10.9 53 100 19.6 36

097 Nonspecified

injuries and disorders 131,180 14.2 7 40 9.4 78 90 17.9 35

0971 Crushing

injuries 15,410 1.7 10 - - - 40 7.4 22

0972 Back pain- hurt

back 35,330 3.8 7 - - - 20 4.1 95

0973 Soreness- painhurt- except the

back

69,720 7.5 7 - - - 30 5.4 37

1 Systemic Diseases and

Disorders 57,560 6.2 15 40 7.8 30 110 23.5 36

15 Digestive system

diseases and disorders 18,790 2.0 24 - - - 50 11.1 31

153 Hernia 18,720 2.0 24 - - - 50 11.1 31

1530 Herniaunspecified 7,530 0.8 24 - - - 50 11.1 31

17 Musculoskeletal

system and connective

tissue diseases and

disorders

11,460 1.2 14 - - - 40 9.1 40

Footnotes:

(1) Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were calculated as: (N/EH) X 20,000,000

where, 

N = number of injuries and illnesses, 

EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year, 

20,000,000 = base for 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).

(2) Median days away from work is the measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with days

away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a specified median. Median days away from work are

represented in actual values.

(3) Days away from work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without restricted work activity.

(4) Data for mining operators in this industry are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Independent mining contractors are excluded. These data do not reflect the changes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates

in other industries.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that do not meet publication guidelines or data for incidence rates less than .05 per 10,000 full-time workers. The

scientifically selected probability sample used was one of many possible samples, each of which could have produced different estimates. A

measure of sampling variability for each estimate is available upon request.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Nature of the injury or

illness

Total, all private industry 212111 Bituminous coal and

lignite surface mining(4)

212112 Bituminous coal

underground mining(4)

Total Cases Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

170 Musculoskeletal

system and connective

tissue diseases and

disorders- unspecified

160 - 30 - - - 40 9.1 40

9999 Nonclassifiable 6,010 0.6 6 20 4.9 12 30 6.4 77

Footnotes:

(1) Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were calculated as: (N/EH) X 20,000,000

where, 

N = number of injuries and illnesses, 

EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year, 

20,000,000 = base for 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).

(2) Median days away from work is the measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with days

away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a specified median. Median days away from work are

represented in actual values.

(3) Days away from work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without restricted work activity.

(4) Data for mining operators in this industry are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Independent mining contractors are excluded. These data do not reflect the changes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates

in other industries.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that do not meet publication guidelines or data for incidence rates less than .05 per 10,000 full-time workers. The

scientifically selected probability sample used was one of many possible samples, each of which could have produced different estimates. A

measure of sampling variability for each estimate is available upon request.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Table 2. Number, incidence rate(1), and median days away from work(2) of occupational injuries and illnesses

involving days away from work(3) in all private industry, bituminous coal and lignite surface mining, and bituminous

coal underground mining, by selected events in private industry for All United State, 2006

Event or exposure of the

injury or illness

Total, all private industry 212111 Bituminous coal and

lignite surface mining(4)

212112 Bituminous coal

underground mining(4)

Total Cases Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

All Selected Events 1,183,500 127.8 7 590 131.4 24 2,160 444.7 31

0 Contact with objects

and equipment 335,460 36.2 5 240 53.4 19 1,110 229.1 28

01 Struck against

object 85,710 9.3 5 130 29.6 20 240 50.2 25

012 Struck against

stationary object 49,000 5.3 5 30 7.3 7 140 29.0 23

013 Struck against

moving object 9,010 1.0 8 100 22.3 28 100 21.2 32

02 Struck by object 164,670 17.8 4 70 16.0 12 640 130.9 26

020 Struck by objectunspecified 6,050 0.7 5 30 5.8 10 200 41.6 14

021 Struck by falling

object 58,010 6.3 6 30 5.6 31 360 74.5 34

022 Struck by flying

object 19,320 2.1 3 20 4.2 8 50 9.7 12

0220 Struck by

flying objectunspecified2,060 0.2 2 20 4.2 8 50 9.5 12

024 Struck by rollingsliding objects on

floor or ground level

4,090 0.4 6 - - - 20 4.9 34

Footnotes:

(1) Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were calculated as:

(N/EH) X 20,000,000 where,

N = number of injuries and illnesses, 

EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year, 

20,000,000 = base for 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).

(2) Median days away from work is the measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with days

away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a specified median. Median days away from work are

represented in actual values.

(3) Days away from work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without restricted work activity.

(4) Data for mining operators in this industry are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Independent mining contractors are excluded. These data do not reflect the changes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates in

other industries.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that do not meet publication guidelines or data for incidence rates less than .05 per 10,000 full-time workers. The

scientifically selected probability sample used was one of many possible samples, each of which could have produced different estimates. A

measure of sampling variability for each estimate is available upon request.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Event or exposure of the

injury or illness

Total, all private industry 212111 Bituminous coal and

lignite surface mining(4)

212112 Bituminous coal

underground mining(4)

Total Cases Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

03 Caught in or

compressed by

equipment or objects

58,760 6.3 8 30 7.6 24 210 44.1 36

030 Caught in or

compressed by

equipment or

objects- unspecified

7,640 0.8 8 20 5.1 23 150 30.7 36

039 Caught in or

compressed by

equipment or

objects- n.e.c.

18,140 2.0 7 - - - 50 9.9 32

1 Falls 234,450 25.3 10 150 32.5 34 260 52.5 43

11 Fall to lower level 74,280 8.0 14 90 19.1 43 50 9.7 36

118 Fall from

nonmoving vehicle 13,270 1.4 21 70 16.5 43 30 5.4 30

13 Fall on same level 151,750 16.4 9 60 13.4 25 210 42.6 44

131 Fall to floorwalkway- or other

surface

129,480 14.0 10 30 7.1 22 130 27.2 67

132 Fall onto or

against objects 18,560 2.0 7 30 6.2 30 70 15.2 34

2 Bodily reaction and

exertion 461,530 49.8 9 160 36.3 26 690 142.7 32

22 Overexertion 284,910 30.8 9 150 34.1 26 680 139.2 32

221 Overexertion in

lifting 150,990 16.3 8 30 6.0 21 190 39.3 22

Footnotes:

(1) Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were calculated as:

(N/EH) X 20,000,000 where,

N = number of injuries and illnesses, 

EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year, 

20,000,000 = base for 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).

(2) Median days away from work is the measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with days

away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a specified median. Median days away from work are

represented in actual values.

(3) Days away from work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without restricted work activity.

(4) Data for mining operators in this industry are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Independent mining contractors are excluded. These data do not reflect the changes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates

in other industries.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that do not meet publication guidelines or data for incidence rates less than .05 per 10,000 full-time workers. The

scientifically selected probability sample used was one of many possible samples, each of which could have produced different estimates. A

measure of sampling variability for each estimate is available upon request.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 10

Event or exposure of the

injury or illness

Total, all private industry 212111 Bituminous coal and

lignite surface mining(4)

212112 Bituminous coal

underground mining(4)

Total Cases Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

Total

Cases

Incidence

Rate

Median

Days

222 Overexertion in

pulling or pushing

objects

48,700 5.3 10 - - - 90 17.5 32

229 Overexertionn.e.c. 12,340 1.3 9 110 24.3 29 390 79.7 38

3 Exposure to harmful

substances or

environments

56,510 6.1 3 30 5.6 4 40 8.2 8

34 Exposure to causticnoxious- or allergenic

substances

28,940 3.1 3 - - - 20 3.1 5

4 Transportation

accidents 56,170 6.1 10 - - - 20 4.5 58

43 Pedestriannonpassenger struck

by vehicle- mobile

equipment

8,400 0.9 18 - - - 20 4.3 64

9999 Nonclassifiable 14,480 1.6 8 - - - 40 7.6 64

Footnotes:

(1) Incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses per 10,000 full-time workers and were calculated as:

(N/EH) X 20,000,000 where,

N = number of injuries and illnesses, 

EH = total hours worked by all employees during the calendar year, 

20,000,000 = base for 10,000 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year).

(2) Median days away from work is the measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with days

away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a specified median. Median days away from work are

represented in actual values.

(3) Days away from work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without restricted work activity.

(4) Data for mining operators in this industry are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Independent mining contractors are excluded. These data do not reflect the changes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates

in other industries.

NOTE: Dashes indicate data that do not meet publication guidelines or data for incidence rates less than .05 per 10,000 full-time workers. The

scientifically selected probability sample used was one of many possible samples, each of which could have produced different estimates. A

measure of sampling variability for each estimate is available upon request.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Table 3. Number and median days away from work(1) of occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from

work(2) to Extraction Workers in Coal Mining(3) by selected natures in private industry for All United States, 2006

Nature of the injury or illness Total Cases Median Days

All Selected Natures 1,430 29

0 Traumatic Injuries and Disorders 1,340 28

01 Traumatic injuries to bones- nerves- spinal cord 290 48

012 Fractures 280 48

02 Traumatic injuries to muscles- tendons- ligaments- joints- etc. 570 30

021 Sprains- strains- tears 570 30

03 Open wounds 140 11

031 Amputations 20 62

034 Cuts- lacerations 100 9

037 Punctures- except bites 30 10

04 Surface wounds and bruises 200 9

043 Bruises- contusions 190 11

05 Burns 20 7

08 Multiple traumatic injuries and disorders 40 65

080 Multiple traumatic injuries and disorders- unspecified 40 65

09 Other traumatic injuries and disorders 70 34

097 Nonspecified injuries and disorders 60 34

0971 Crushing injuries 30 37

0973 Soreness- pain- hurt- except the back 20 30

1 Systemic Diseases and Disorders 70 37

15 Digestive system diseases and disorders 30 38

153 Hernia 30 38

1530 Hernia- unspecified 30 38

17 Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases and disorders 30 40

170 Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases and

disorders- unspecified 30 40

9999 Nonclassifiable 20 41

Footnotes:

(1) Median days away from work is the measure used to summarize the varying lengths of absences from work among the cases with days

away from work. Half the cases involved more days and half involved less days than a specified median. Median days away from work are

represented in actual values.

(2) Days away from work cases include those which result in days away from work with or without restricted work activity.

(3) Data for mining operators in this industry are provided to BLS by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.

Independent mining contractors are excluded. These data do not reflect the changes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

made to its recordkeeping requirements effective January 1, 2002; therefore estimates for these industries are not comparable to estimates in

other industries.

NOTE: Because of rounding and data exclusion of nonclassifiable responses, data may not sum to the totals. Dashes indicate data that do not

meet publication guidelines. The scientifically selected probability sample used was one of many possible samples, each of which could have

produced different estimates. A measure of sampling variability for each estimate is available upon request.

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, January 22, 2008
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Table 4. Four Most Frequent Occupations in Coal Mining Fatalities

Occupation Fatalities

Roof Bolters, Mining 15

Mining Machine Operators, All Other 9

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 5

Electricians 5

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2006

Data for Chart 1. Count and incidence rate of injuries and illnesses with days away from work, coal mining, 2006

Incidence Rate (per 10,000 full-time workers) Count

Anthracite mining (code 212113) 358.6 40

Bituminous coal underground mining (code 212112) 444.7 2160

Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining (code 212111) 131.4 590

Coal mining (code 2121) 294.8 2790
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Data for Chart 2. Rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses with days away from work, coal mining 2003-2006 (per 10,000

full-time workers)

2003 2004 2005 2006

Coal mining (code 2121) 410.0 359.9 320.5 294.8

Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining (code 212111) 197.8 165.0 143.5 131.4

Bituminous coal underground mining (code 212112) 614.8 543.8 486.7 444.7

Anthracite mining (code 212113) 394.0 376.3 307.2 358.6

Total, private industry 150.0 141.3 135.7 127.8
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Data for Chart 3. Number of fatalities, coal mining industries

2006 2003-2005 average

Other coal mining 9 8

Bituminous coal underground mining 33 13

Bituminous coal and lignite surface mining* 5

Coal mining, total 47 25

* Data not available

Note: The "Other coal mining" category includes both anthracite mining and coal mining that could not be specified any further.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2006

Data for Chart 4. Fatality rates, mining industries, 2006

Support activities for mining 30.4

Coal mining 49.5

Oil and gas extraction 20.8

Mining sector 28.1

Total private industry 4.3

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2006
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

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Data for Chart 5. Fatalities in the coal mining industry by event, 2006

Fires and explosions 43

Contact with objects and equipment 34

Transportation incidents 19

Other 4

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2006
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Page 16

Data for Chart 6. Number of fatalities, coal mining industries, 2003-2006

Industry 2003 2004 2005 2006

Bituminous coal underground mining 19 14 7 33

All other coal mining 8 12 15 14

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2006

Data for Chart 7. Coal mining fatalities by nature, 2006

Percent

Multiple traumatic injuries 49

Intracranial injuries and injuries to internal organs 13

Other traumatic injuries 45

Poisonings, toxic effects 32

Asphyxiations, suffocations 6

Other Nature 6

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2006

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