Mining Publication: Underground Mining Facts - 2003

Data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) indicate that a total of 44,015 employees worked in underground mining locations in 2003, corresponding to 44,778 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers. In 2003, 16 occupational mining fatalities occurred in underground work locations. The underground work location fatality rate was 35.7 per 100,000 FTE workers. Within underground work locations, 2,818 nonfatal lost-time injuries resulting in 193,983 lost work days were reported to MSHA in 2003. The nonfatal lost-time injury rate was 6.3 per 100 FTEs. In 2003, 257 cases of occupational illnesses were reported to MSHA among employees in underground work locations.