FACTS

Mining is considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Underground hazards include:

• Mine cave-ins
• Mine explosions
• Poor air quality in mines
• Respiratory illnesses in miners
• Mining in extreme temperatures

Risks within the mining industry, include:

• Silica
• Diesel Particulate Matter
• Noise
• Manual Material Handling
• Fall of Ground (rock cave in)
• Rock bursts
• Secondary Blasting
• Working at Heights
• Crush hazards
• Pinch points
• Gases such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen dioxide
• Working with explosives
• Heat stress
• Electrical hazards
• Hazardous energy control including lockout/tag out.
• Working with cranes, hoists, conveyors and other material handling equipment
• Struck by mobile equipment.
• Fires, including underground fires.
• Air quality, including oxygen deficient environment, or molds.
• Slips, trips/falls
• Working alone
• Shift work
• Computer work

STATS

• More people are killed or injured in the mining industry than in any other industry. More than 15,000 miners are killed every year.
• In 2021, 37 U.S. miners died from work-related accidents.
• In 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reports there were 29 mining fatalities, making it the sixth consecutive year that mining fatalities were below 30. Among those fatalities, five occurred in coal mines.
• For mine operators, 23.1% of the employee hours were for underground work locations, and 76.9% of the employee hours were for surface work locations.
• The fatality rate for mine operator employees was 81.4%, and the rate for contractor employees was 18.6%.
• The five leading major causes of underground mining fatalities:
  • Fall of ground, 28%
  • Powered haulage, 21%
  • Machinery, 17%
  • Explosions, 16%
  • Electrical, 10%