Noncoal Contractor Mining Facts - 2008 (HTML)
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2011–169
Mining Operations
An independent contractor is defined by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) as "any person, partnership, corporation, subsidiary of a corporation, firm, association or other organization that contracts to perform services or construction at a mine." Contractors that perform specific types of work are required to report the number of employees who work at coal mines and noncoal mines.
Companies
In 2008, a total of 6,128 independent contracting companies reported employment at noncoal mines, or 63.9% of all independent contracting companies.
Employees
A total of 75,451 employees, [1] corresponding to 40,086 full-time equivalent (FTE) [2] employees, were reported by noncoal contractors.
- Within the mining sectors, [3] noncaol contractor employees comprised 11.8% of all employee hours reported to MSHA.
- Noncoal contractor employee hours were reported for both underground (5.0%) and surface (95.0%) work locations. [4]
Commodity and Type of Employer | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coal Operator | 170.3 | 157.3 | 168.4 | 163.8 | 157.1 | 166.5 | 181.3 | 189.0 | 186.5 | 200.4 |
Metal Operator | 83.4 | 77.4 | 68.8 | 58.5 | 55.5 | 59.5 | 63.4 | 67.9 | 75.5 | 81.4 |
Nonmetal Operator | 54.7 | 53.1 | 50.6 | 47.5 | 46.9 | 46.9 | 46.2 | 46.4 | 46.5 | 46.5 |
Stone Operator | 167.8 | 168.5 | 166.1 | 161.7 | 160.0 | 163.5 | 168.6 | 170.8 | 166.5 | 153.5 |
Sand and Gravel Operator | 78.9 | 78.1 | 77.0 | 75.3 | 74.8 | 76.6 | 78.4 | 79.6 | 76.7 | 66.7 |
Coal Contractor | 35.4 | 36.2 | 40.3 | 36.5 | 35.0 | 38.5 | 43.0 | 46.2 | 45.5 | 52.6 |
Noncoal Contractor | 47.8 | 54.2 | 49.8 | 39.2 | 39.9 | 46.8 | 54.1 | 62.6 | 76.3 | 80.2 |
Fatalities
Five occupational fatalities occurred among noncoal contractor employees in 2008, accounting for 29.4% of all fatalities attributed to independent contractors.
- The noncoal contractor fatality rate for all work locations was 13.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.3%, 30.8] fatalities per 100,000 FTE employees.
Fatalities | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Underground number | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Surface number | 15 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 5 |
Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries
There were 501 nonfatal lost-time injuries among noncaol contractor employees (38 at underground and 463 at surface work locations) with an overall rate of 1.3 [CI: 1.2, 1.4] injuries per 100 FTE employees. These injuries resulted in 20,902 days lost from work. [5]
- The underground nonfatal lost-time injury rate for noncoal contractor employees was 1.9 [CI: 1.3, 2.6], while the surface rate was 1.3 [CI: 1.3, 2.6], while the surface rate was 1.3 [CI: 1.2, 1.4] per 100 FTE workers.
- The most frequent classification of nonfatal lost-time injuries reported for noncoal contractor employees involved handling materials (n=169; 33.7%), followed by slip or fall of person (n=132; 26.3%).
- Sprains and strains were the most frequently reported nature of injury (n=161; 32.1%).
- In 2008, the most frequently reported body parts injured were the fingers (n=93; 18.6%; 3,683 days lost from work) and the back (n=71; 14.2%; 2,868 days lost from work).
Accident Class | Percent |
---|---|
Handling materials | 33.7 |
Slip or fall of person | 26.3 |
Machinery | 12.4 |
Powered haulage | 9.8 |
Hand tools | 8.0 |
All other | 9.8 |
Mining operations, 2007
Commodity and Type of Employer | Underground Mining Operations | Surface Mining Operations | Total Mining Operations |
---|---|---|---|
Coal | 665 | 1,464 | 2,129 |
Metal | 105 | 188 | 293 |
Nonmetal | 44 | 676 | 720 |
Stone | 111 | 4,522 | 4,633 |
Sand & Gravel | Not applicable | 7,132 | 7,132 |
Total | 925 | 13,982 | 14,907 |
Contracting companies, 2007
Commodity and Type of Employer | Number of Companies |
---|---|
Coal | 3,467 |
Noncoal | 6,128 |
Total | 9,595 |
Employment characteristics, 2007
Commodity and Type of Employer | Underground Employees [1] | Surface Employees [1] | Total Employees [1] | Underground FTE Employees [2] | Surface FTE Employees [2] | Total FTE Employees [2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coal Operator | 40,370 | 49,685 | 90,055 | 45,866 | 54,312 | 100,178 |
Metal Operator | 5,844 | 33,282 | 39,126 | 5,842 | 34,840 | 40,682 |
Nonmetal Operator | 2,579 | 20,454 | 23,033 | 2,725 | 20,534 | 23,260 |
Stone Operator | 1,875 | 77,100 | 78,975 | 2,029 | 74,720 | 76,749 |
Sand & Gravel Operator | Not applicable | 42,307 | 42,307 | Not applicable | 33,343 | 33,343 |
Operator Total | 50,668 | 222,828 | 273,496 | 56,462 | 217,750 | 274,212 |
Coal Contractor | 6,262 | 37,510 | 43,772 | 4,105 | 22,216 | 26,321 |
Noncoal Contractor | 2,992 | 72,459 | 75,451 | 1,998 | 38,088 | 40,086 |
Contractor Total | 9,254 | 109,969 | 119,223 | 6,103 | 60,304 | 66,407 |
Total | 59,922 | 332,797 | 392,719 | 62,565 | 278,054 | 340,620 |
Mining Occupational Fatalities (per 100,000 FTE employees), 2007
Commodity and Type of Employer | Underground Fatalities | Underground Fatality Rate | Surface Fatalities | Surface Fatality Rate | Fatalities | Fatality Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coal Operator | 12 | 26.2 | 6 | 11.9 | 18 | 18.7 |
Metal Operator | 3 | Not calculated | 2 | Not calculated | 5 | 13.8 |
Nonmetal Operator | 1 | Not calculated | 1 | Not calculated | 2 | Not calculated |
Stone Operator | 1 | Not calculated | 6 | 9.4 | 7 | 10.6 |
Sand & Gravel Operator | Not applicable | Not applicable | 3 | Not calculated | 3 | Not calculated |
Operator Total | 17 | 30.1 | 18 | 9.4 | 35 | 14.2 |
Coal Contractor | 3 | Not calculated | 9 | 43.4 | 12 | 48.3 |
Noncoal Contractor | 0 | Not calculated | 5 | 13.9 | 5 | 13.2 |
Contractor Total | 3 | Not calculated | 14 | 24.7 | 17 | 27.1 |
Total | 20 | 32.0 | 32 | 12.9 | 52 | 16.8 |
Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries (per 100 FTE employees), 2007
Commodity and Type of Employer | Underground Injuries | Underground Injury Rate | Surface Injuries | Surface Injury Rate | Injuries | Injury Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coal Operator | 2,103 | 4.6 | 768 | 1.5 | 2,871 | 3.0 |
Metal Operator | 163 | 2.8 | 649 | 2.1 | 812 | 2.2 |
Nonmetal Operator | 95 | 3.5 | 412 | 2.4 | 507 | 2.5 |
Stone Operator | 33 | 1.6 | 1,593 | 2.5 | 1,626 | 2.5 |
Sand & Gravel Operator | Not applicable | Not applicable | 550 | 1.9 | 550 | 1.9 |
Operator Total | 2,394 | 4.2 | 3,972 | 2.1 | 6,366 | 2.6 |
Coal Contractor | 168 | 4.1 | 313 | 1.5 | 481 | 1.9 |
Noncoal Contractor | 38 | 1.9 | 463 | 1.3 | 501 | 1.3 |
Contractor Total | 206 | 3.4 | 776 | 1.4 | 982 | 1.6 |
Total | 2,600 | 4.2 | 4,748 | 1.9 | 7,348 | 2.4 |
Not calculated when N is less than 5. 95% CI for rates reported above. Totals may not sum due to independent rounding.
Data source: Publicly released data files of employment and accident/injury/illness collected by MSHA under 30 CFR 50.
Notes: All analyses of accident data exclude office employees. Occupational fatalities exclude all cases under 17 years of age. Further statistical methodology is available on the NIOSH Internet. Data in the above tables may not add to totals shown because of independent rounding. Caution should be used when interpreting rates based on a small number of events.
- Average number of employees working at individual mines during calendar quarters of active operations (includes office workers).
- Full-time equivalent employees computed using reported employee hours (2,000 hours = 1 FTE).
- Mining sectors include coal operators, metal operators, nonmetal operators, stone operators, sand and gravel operators, coal contractors, and noncoal contractors.
- Surface work locations include surface operations at underground mines, surface operations (strip or open pit), dredge, other surface operations, independent shops and yards, and mills or preparation plants.
- 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.
To receive NIOSH documents or more information about occupational safety and health topics, contact NIOSH at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), TTY: 1-888-232-6348, e-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov, or visit the NIOSH Web site.
See Also
- Coal Operator Mining Facts - 2005
- Metal Operator Mining Facts - 2002
- Metal Operator Mining Facts - 2004
- Metal Operator Mining Facts - 2005
- Noncoal Contractor Mining Facts - 2003
- Nonmetal Operator Mining Facts - 2002
- Nonmetal Operator Mining Facts - 2008
- Sand and Gravel Operator Mining Facts - 2006
- Stone Operator Mining Facts - 2003
- Stone Operator Mining Facts - 2005
- Page last reviewed: 3/2/2015
- Page last updated: 3/28/2014
- Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program