Mining Facts - 2015

Overall Mining

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) maintains data collected under the Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR Part 50) on accidents, fatal and nonfatal injuries, illnesses, employment, and coal production. Summary data were obtained from the MSHA data files for mine operators and independent contractors working on mine property. See Statistical Methodology for further information.

Mining Operations

• In 2015, a total of 13,294 mining operations [1] reported employment to MSHA.
• Active mining operations were distributed among the coal (n=1,460; 11.0%), metal and nonmetal (n=1,239; 9.3%), and stone and sand & gravel (n=10,595; 79.7%) industry sectors. [2]
• The majority of the active mining operations were classified as surface (n=12,637; 95.1%). Underground mines accounted for the remainder of operations (n=657; 4.9%).
• Nearly half of the mining operations produced the primary commodity of sand & gravel (44.6%), followed by crushed and broken limestone (14.3%), and bituminous coal (10.0%).
• Mines reporting to MSHA are located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Pennsylvania had the most active mines in 2015 (n=846; 6.4%). Almost half (48.6%) of the active mining operations were located in the 13 states with the highest number of mining operations.

 

Data for the previous chart showing the number of active mining operations and percentage of total by commodity in 2015 (N=13,294) 

Commodity	Number of Mines	Percentage of Total
Coal	1,460	11.0
Metal	315	2.4
Nonmetal	924	7.0
Stone	4,303	32.4
Sand & Gravel	6,292	47.3

 

Employees

• A combined total of 349,847 employees, [3] corresponding to 292,790 full-time equivalent (FTE) [4] employees, were reported to MSHA by mine operators and independent contractors. [5]
• The average number of mine operator employees (n=237,812) comprised 68.0% of the workforce compared to 32.0% for independent contractors (n=112,035).
• When considering the numbers of hours worked, mine operators comprised 80.9%, while 19.1% of the hours were attributable to contractors.
• Within the mining commodities, [6] coal mine operator employees accounted for 24.9% of all hours reported, followed by stone mine operators (23.1%), metal mine operators (14.8%), noncoal contractors (12.9%), sand & gravel operators (9.3%), nonmetal mine operators (8.7%), and coal contractors (6.3%).
• The FTE employees reported for surface [7] work locations were higher (n=239,918; 81.9%) than those at underground work locations (n=52,872; 18.1%).
• The distribution of average number of employees by industry sector included coal operators (n=68,413; 19.6%), metal and nonmetal operators (n=67,548; 19.3%), stone and sand & gravel operators (n=101,851; 29.1%), coal contractors (n=34,358; 9.8%), and noncoal contractors (n=77,677; 22.2%).

 

 

Data for the previous chart showing the average number of employees by industry sector in 2015

Industry Sector	Number of Employees
Coal Operator	68,413
Metal and Nonmetal Operator	67,548
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator	101,851
Coal Contractor	34,358
Noncoal Contractor	77,677

 

Occupational Fatalities

• There were 26 occupational fatalities reported to MSHA in 2015. This compares to 43 in 2014.
• The number of fatalities reported by mine operators was 20 (76.9%), and independent contractors reported 6 (23.1%).
• Within the industry sectors, coal had the highest number of fatalities (n=11; 42.3%), followed by the stone and sand & gravel sector (n=8; 30.8%), and the metal and nonmetal sector (n=7; 26.9%).
• Fatalities occurred at surface work locations in 57.7% of the cases (n=15) with the remainder (n=11; 42.3%) occurring at underground work locations.
• The overall fatality rate was 9.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.4, 14.3] per 100,000 FTE employees.
• The fatality rate of 20.8 [CI: 10.4, 37.2] for underground workers was higher than the surface worker rate of 7.0 [CI: 3.9, 11.6].
• The fatality rate for mine operators was 9.4 [CI: 5.7, 14.5] (n=20). Independent contractors had a fatality rate of 11.3 [CI: 4.2, 24.7] (n=6).
• The highest number of fatalities reported by accident classification was for machinery (n=8; 30.8%), followed by powered haulage (n=6; 23.1%).
• The nature of injury most frequently reported for the fatalities was crushing (n=13; 50.0%).
• The category for part of body reporting the highest number of fatalities was for multiple parts (n=9; 34.6%), followed by body systems (n=5; 19.2%).

 

 Data for the previous chart showing the distribution of occupational fatalities by accident class for 2015 (N=26)

Accident Classification	Percentage of Total
Machinery	30.8
Powered haulage	23.1
Fall of ground (from in place)	15.4
Falling, rolling, or sliding rock or material	15.4
All other	15.4

 

Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries 

• In 2015, there were 4,517 nonfatal lost-time injuries occurring at an overall rate of 1.7 [CI: 1.6, 1.7] per 100 FTE employees. This compares to 5,199 nonfatal lost-time injuries in 2014 occurring at rate of 1.8.
• These injuries occurred at underground (n=1,503; 33.3%) and surface (n=3,014; 66.7%) work locations. A total of 299,993 days were lost from work [8] as a result of these injuries.
• The nonfatal lost-time injury rate for mine operators was 1.9 [CI: 1.8, 1.9] per 100 FTE employees, and the independent contractor injury rate was 0.9 [CI: 0.9, 1.0].
• Underground workers had a higher rate of nonfatal lost-time injuries at 2.8 [CI: 2.7, 3.0]. The rate for surface workers was 1.4 [CI: 1.4, 1.5) per 100 FTE employees.
• The most frequent accident classification of nonfatal lost-time injuries involved handling materials (n=1,618; 35.8%), followed by slip or fall of person (n=1,171; 25.9%).
• Sprains or strains was the most frequently reported nature of injury (n=2,006; 44.4%). This was followed by injuries involving fractures and chips (n=811; 18.0%); cuts, lacerations, and punctures (n=431; 9.5%); and contusions and bruises (n=406; 9.0%).
• The back was the most frequently reported body part injured (n=798; 17.7%), resulting in 50,320 days lost from work. This was followed by injuries to the finger (n=567; 12.6%; 27,862 days lost), knee (n=475; 10.5%; 31,587 days lost), and shoulder (n=439; 9.7%; 40,290 days lost).

Data for the previous chart showing the rate (per 100 full-time equivalent employees) of nonfatal lost-time injuries by year, 2011–2015 (excludes office employees) 

Year	Overall	Operator	Contractor
2011	1.9	2.1	1.2
2012	1.9	2.1	1.1
2013	1.8	2.0	1.0
2014	1.8	2.1	0.9
2015	1.7	1.9	0.9

Coal Mine Operator Industry Sector

Mining Operations

• In 2015, a total of 1,460 active coal mining operations reported employment to MSHA. This compares to 1,632 coal mining operations in 2014.
• Bituminous mines comprised 90.7 (n=1,324) and anthracite mines 9.3% (n=136) of all coal mining operations.
• The active coal mines were classified as underground (n=405; 27.7%) and surface mining operations (n=1,055; 72.3%).
• In 2015, nearly 70% of all coal mines were located in three states: Pennsylvania (n=353), Kentucky (n=351), and West Virginia (n=313).This is a 12.6% decrease in the number of active coal mines from the previous year (2014): Kentucky (n=418), Pennsylvania (n=381), and West Virginia (n=364).

 Employees

•  A total of 68,413 employees, corresponding to 72,999 FTE employees, were reported by coal mine operators.
• Within the mining commodity sectors, coal mine operator employees accounted for 24.9% of all employee hours reported.
• The average number of coal mine operator employees at underground work locations was reported as 32,746 (47.9%) and 35,667 (52.1%) employees were reported as working at surface locations.

 Occupational Fatalities

• There were 9 occupational fatalities (8 occurring underground and one at surface work location) reported among coal mine operator employees in 2015.
• The fatality rate was 12.8 [CI: 5.8, 24.2] per 100,000 FTE employees.
• The distribution of coal operator fatalities by accident classification was fall of ground (n=3; 33.3%); powered haulage (n=2; 22.2); machinery (n=2; 22.2%); falling, rolling, or sliding rock or material (n=1; 11.1%); and slip or fall of person (n=1; 11.1%).
• The nature of injury with the highest number of fatalities for coal mine operators was crushing (n=6; 66.7%).
• The chest (n=3; 33.3%) and multiple parts (n=3; 33.3%) were the most frequently reported body parts for coal mine operator fatalities. The remaining fatalities were attributed to the head (n=2; 22.2%) and trunk (n=1; 11.1%).

 Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries

• There were 1,643 nonfatal lost-time injuries (1,210 at underground and 433 at surface work locations) among coal mine operators occurring at a rate of 2.3 [CI: 2.2, 2.4] per 100 FTE employees. A total of 132,438 days lost from work resulted from these injuries (median=45.0).
• The most frequent accident classification of nonfatal lost-time injuries for coal mine operator employees involved handling materials (n=552; 33.6%), followed by slip or fall of person (n=405; 24.7%).
• Nearly half (n=806; 49.1%) of the most frequently reported nature of injury was attributed to sprains and strains. This was followed by fractures or chips (n=314; 19.1%).
• The back was the most frequently reported body part injured (n=335; 20.4%). This was followed by injuries to the shoulders (n=190; 11.6%), knee (n=177; 10.8%), and fingers (n=148; 9.0%).

 

Data for the previous chart showing the number and rate (per 100 full-time equivalent employees) of coal mine operator nonfatal lost-time injuries by work location and year, 2011-2015 (excludes office employees)

Year	Underground Number	Underground Rate	Surface Number	Surface Rate
2011	1,896	3.6	691	1.3
2012	1,717	3.4	596	1.3
2013	1,577	3.4	551	1.3
2014	1,532	3.5	527	1.3
2015	1,210	3.3	433	1.3

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Operator Industry Sector

Mining Operations

• A total of 1,239 metal and nonmetal mining operations reported employment to MSHA in 2015. This compares to 1,256 mines reported in 2014.
• The majority of metal and nonmetal mining operations were classified as surface mines (n=1,103; 89.0%). There were 136 underground mining operations (11.0%).
• The primary commodity of “sand, industrial, ground silica/quartz” comprised the largest number of metal and nonmetal mining operations (n=303; 24.5%). This was followed by gold (n=168; 13.6%) and common clay (n=134; 10.8%).
• The leading Standard Industrial Classification for the primary commodity mined at metal mining operations was gold (n=168; 53.3%). Nonmetal mining operations reported “sand, industrial, ground silica/quartz” as the primary commodity mined (n=303; 32.8%).
• Active metal and nonmetal mining operations are found throughout 49 of the states and Puerto Rico (no active mines in Hawaii or the Virgin Islands).
• Nevada had the largest number of metal and nonmetal mines (n=118; 9.5%), followed by Texas (n=89; 7.2%) and California (n=86; 6.9%).

 Employees

• Metal and nonmetal mine operators reported a total of 67,548 employees, corresponding to 68,743 FTE employees.
• Within the mining commodity sectors, metal and nonmetal mine operator employees accounted for 23.5% of all employee hours reported.
• Metal and nonmetal employees were reported for both underground (n=9,043; 13.4%) and surface (n=58,505; 86.6%) work locations.

 Occupational Fatalities

• There were 5 occupational fatalities (2 occurring underground and 3 at surface work locations) reported among metal and nonmetal mine operator employees in 2015. This compares to 8 fatalities reported in 2014.
• The fatality rate was 8.3 [CI: 2.7, 19.3] per 100,000 FTE employees.
• The number of fatalities by accident classification was powered haulage (n=2; 40.0%), machinery (n=2; 40.0%), and fall of ground (n=1; 20.0%).
• The nature of injury with the highest frequency of metal and nonmetal mine operator fatalities was crushing (n=3; 60.0%).

 Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries

• There were 954 nonfatal lost-time injuries (168 at underground and 786 at surface work locations) among metal and nonmetal operators occurring at a rate of 1.6 [CI: 1.5, 1.7] per 100 FTE employees. A total of 44,028 days lost from work resulted from these injuries (median=19.0).
• The most frequent accident classification of nonfatal lost-time injuries for metal and nonmetal mine operator employees in­volved handling materials (n=332; 34.8%), followed by slip or fall of person (n=272; 28.5%).
• Sprains or strains was the most frequently reported nature of injury (n=462; 48.4%).
• The back was the most frequently reported body part injured (n=176; 18.4%). This was followed by injuries to fingers (n=122; 12.8%) and knees (n=118; 12.4%).

Data for the previous chart showing the number and rate (per 100 full-time equivalent employees) of metal and nonmetal mine operator nonfatal lost-time injuries by work location and year, 2011-2015 (excludes office employees) 

Year	Underground Number	Underground Rate	Surface Number	Surface Rate
2011	223	2.5	733	1.6
2012	259	2.7	741	1.5
2013	204	2.1	948	1.8
2014	174	1.8	953	1.8
2015	168	1.8	786	1.5

Stone and Sand & Gravel Mine Operator Industry Sector

Mining Operations

• A total of 10,595 stone and sand & gravel mining operations reported employee hours to MSHA in 2015. This compares to 10,716 active mines in 2014.
• Stone and sand & gravel mines were found throughout all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
• There were 10,479 surface stone and sand & gravel mining operations (98.9%) and 116 underground stone mining operations (1.1%). All sand & gravel mining is performed at surface work locations.
• In stone mining, crushed and broken limestone was the primary commodity for the largest number of mining operations (n=1,904; 44.2%).
• Pennsylvania had the most stone mines (n=398; 9.2%), followed by Texas (n=380; 8.8%).
• Sand & gravel is the primary commodity mined at sand & gravel mines (n=5,927; 94.2%). The other primary commodity mined was construction sand & gravel and common sand (n=365; 5.8%).
• The states with the leading number of sand & gravel mines were Minnesota (n=502; 8.0%), New York (n=380; 6.0%), Wisconsin (n=376; 6.0%), and Michigan (n=366; 5.8%).

 Employees

• There were 101,851 employees, corresponding to 94,988 FTE employees, reported by stone and sand & gravel mine operators.
• Within the mining commodity sectors, stone and sand & gravel mine operator employees accounted for 32.4% of all employee hours reported.
• All sand & gravel operator hours reported were for surface work locations. Stone operator hours were reported for both underground (3.2%) and surface (96.8%) work locations.

 Occupational Fatalities

• In 2015, there were 6 occupational fatalities reported among stone and sand & gravel mine operators. This compares to 12 fatalities reported in 2014.
• The fatality rate was 7.3 [CI: 2.7, 15.9] per 100,000 FTE employees.
• All of these fatalities occurred at surface work locations of the mine.
• Falling, rolling, or sliding rock or material was the accident classification with the most fatalities (n=3; 50.0%).
• The leading nature of injury for these fatalities was asphyxia, strangulation, drowning, etc. (n=3; 50.0%). 

 Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries

• There were 1,423 nonfatal lost-time injuries (40 at underground and 1,383 at surface work locations) among stone and sand & gravel operators occurring at a rate of 1.7 [CI: 1.6, 1.8] per 100 FTE employees.
• These nonfatal lost-time injuries resulted in a total of 88,710 days lost from work (median=21.0).
• The leading accident classification of nonfatal lost-time injuries for stone and sand & gravel operator employees involved handling materials (n=553; 38.9%), followed by slip or fall of person (n=359; 25.2%).
• Sprains or strains was the most frequently reported nature of injury (n=580; 40.8%).
• The most frequently reported body part injured was the fingers (n=228; 16.0%). This was followed by injuries to the back (n=222; 15.6%), the knee (n=140; 9.8%), and the shoulders (n=119; 8.4%).

   

Data for the previous chart showing the number and rate (per 100 full-time equivalent employees) of stone and sand & gravel mine operator nonfatal lost-time injuries by work location and year, 2011-2015 (excludes office employees)

Year	Underground Number	Underground Rate	Surface Number	Surface Rate
2011	35	1.8	1,451	1.9
2012	42	2.2	1,478	1.9
2013	36	1.9	1,327	1.8
2014	44	2.1	1,434	1.9
2015	40	1.9	1,383	1.7

Coal and Noncoal Independent Contractors

An independent contractor is defined by 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.

Independent Contracting Companies

• A total of 9,634 independent contracting companies reported employee hours to MSHA in 2015.
• Coal contractors accounted for 2,705 of the companies (28.1%), and 6,929 (71.9%) were noncoal (metal, nonmetal, stone, and sand & gravel) contracting companies.

 Employees

• Independent contractors reported a total of 112,035 employees, corresponding to 56,059 FTE employees.
• Coal contractor employees comprised 30.7% (n=34,358) of the contractor employment, and noncoal contractor employees represented 69.3% with 77,677 employees reported.
• The distribution of employee hours for coal contractors was 18.1% for underground work locations and 81.9% for surface locations.
• Noncoal contractor employee hours were reported at underground locations 5.3% of the time with 94.7% of the hours being worked at surface locations.

Occupational Fatalities

• In 2015, there were 6 occupational fatalities among independent contractor employees with a rate of 11.3 [CI: 4.2, 24.7] per 100,000 FTE employees. This compares to 10 occupational fatalities in 2014 occurring at a rate of 17.2 [CI: 8.3, 3.7].
• Two of these fatalities were attributed to coal contractors, and four fatalities were for noncoal contractors.
• The worker location for five of these fatalities was at surface areas of the mine and one fatality occurred at an underground location.
• Of the contractor fatalities, two had an accident classification of machinery (33.3%).

 Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries

• There were 497 nonfatal lost-time injuries among contractor employees (85 at underground and 412 at surface work locations) with an overall rate of 0.9 [CI: 0.9, 1.0] injuries per 100 FTE employees.
• The contractor underground nonfatal lost-time injury rate of 1.6 [CI: 1.3, 2.0] was greater than the surface injury rate of 0.9 [CI: 0.8, 1.0] per 100 FTE workers.
• Of the total contractor injuries, 172 were attributed to coal and 325 were for noncoal.
• The leading contractor classification of nonfatal lost-time injuries involved handling materials (n=181; 36.4%), followed by slip or fall of person (n=135; 27.2%).
• The back was the most frequently reported part of body injured for coal contractors (n=26; 15.1%). This was followed by fingers (n=23; 13.4%). The leading parts of body injured for noncoal contractors were fingers (n=46; 14.2%) and the back (n=39; 12.0%).
• Sprains and strains was the most frequently reported nature of injury for coal contractors (n=58; 33.7%) and also for noncoal contractors (n=100; 30.8%).

  

Data for the previous chart showing the number and rate (per 100 full-time equivalent employees) of coal and noncoal contractor lost-time injuries by year, 2011-2015 (excludes office employees)

Year	Coal Number	Coal Rate	Noncoal Number	Noncoal Rate
2011	403	1.6	345	1.0
2012	345	1.4	384	1.0
2013	271	1.3	344	0.9
2014	237	1.2	298	0.8
2105	172	1.0	325	0.9

Notes

Publicly released employment and accident/injury/illness data were collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) under the Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR 50). All analyses of accident data exclude office employees. Occupational fatalities exclude all cases under 17 years of age. Caution should be used when interpreting rates based on a small number of events.

[1] Both mine operator and independent contractor employees work at mining operations. Active mines are those that report any mine operator employment. Mines at which only independent contractors were working and did not show any operator employment were not counted.

[2] Mining industry sectors include: (1) coal, (2) metal and nonmetal, and (3) stone and sand & gravel.

[3] Average number of employees working at individual mines during calendar quarters of active operations (includes office workers).

[4] Full-time equivalent employees computed using reported employee hours (2,000 hours = 1 FTE; includes office workers).

[5] Independent contractors do not report mine-specific information for employment. The data they provide are summaries for all coal and all noncoal (metal, nonmetal, stone, and sand & gravel) mining operations. For this reason, contractors cannot be included when computing fatality and injury rates for either the metal and nonmetal or the stone and sand & gravel industry sectors.

[6] Mining commodity and type of employer classes include coal operators, metal operators, nonmetal operators, stone operators, sand & gravel operators, coal contractors, and noncoal (metal, nonmetal, stone, and sand & gravel) contractors.

[7] 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.

[8] Total days lost 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.

 

Data Tables

Active Mining Operations, 2015

Commodity and Industry Sector	Underground	Surface	Total
Coal	405	1,055	1,460
Coal Sector	405	1,055	1,460
Metal	92	223	315
Nonmetal	44	880	924
Metal and Nonmetal Sector	136	1,103	1,239
Stone	116	4,187	4,303
Sand & Gravel	0	6,292	6,292
Stone and Sand & Gravel Sector	116	10,479	10,595
TOTAL	657	12,637	13,294

Independent Contracting Companies, 2015

Commodity	Companies
Coal	2,705
Noncoal	6,929
Total	9,634

Employment Characteristics, 2015

Commodity, Type of Employer, Industry Sector	Underground  Employees	Surface Employees	Total Employees	Underground FTE Employees	Surface FTE Employees	Total FTE Employees
Coal Operator Sector	32,746	35,667	68,413	36,179	36,819	72,999
Metal Operator	6,391	35,068	41,459	6,496	36,887	43,383
Nonmetal Operator	2,652	23,437	26,089	2,733	22,628	25,361
Metal and Nonmetal Operator Sector	9,043	58,505	67,548	9,229	59,515	68,744
Stone Operator	1,958	65,112	67,070	2,135	65,492	67,627
Sand & Gravel Operator	0	34,781	34,781	0	27,361	27,361
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator Sector	1,958	99,893	101,851	2,135	92,853	94,988
Operator Total	43,747	194,065	237,812	47,543	189,188	236,730
Coal Contractor	5,589	28,769	34,358	3,310	15,014	18,324
Noncoal Contractor	2,943	74,734	77,677	2,019	35,717	37,735
Contractor Total	8,532	103,503	112,035	5,329	50,730	56,059
TOTAL	52,279	297,568	349,847	52,872	239,918	292,790
Note: Components may not sum to totals due to rounding

Occupational Fatalities, 2015

Rate per 100,000 full-time equivalent employees; 95% confidence interval

Commodity, Type of Employer, Industry Sector	Total Number	Total Rate	Total Lower CI	Total Upper CI
Coal Operator Sector	9	12.8	5.8	24.2
Metal Operator	4	NC	NC	NC
Nonmetal Operator	1	NC	NC	NC
Metal and Nonmetal Operator Sector	5	8.3	2.7	19.3
Stone Operator	2	NC	NC	NC
Sand & Gravel Operator	4	NC	NC	NC
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator Sector	6	7.3	2.7	15.9
Operator Total	20	9.4	5.7	14.5
Coal Contractor	2	NC	NC	NC
Noncoal Contractor	4	NC	NC	NC
Contractor Total	6	11.3	4.2	24.7
TOTAL	26	9.8	6.4	14.3
Note: NC–Not calculated when N is less than 5

Occupational Fatalities (Underground), 2015

Rate per 100,000 full-time equivalent employees; 95% confidence interval

Commodity, Type of Employer, Industry Sector	Underground Number	Underground Rate	Underground Lower CI	Underground Upper CI
Coal Operator Sector	8	22.1	9.5	43.6
Metal Operator	2	NC	NC	NC
Nonmetal Operator	0	NC	NC	NC
Metal and Nonmetal Operator Sector	2	NC	NC	NC
Stone Operator	0	NC	NC	NC
Sand & Gravel Operator	NA	NA	NA	NA
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator Sector	0	NC	NC	NC
Operator Total	10	21.0	10.1	38.7
Coal Contractor	0	NC	NC	NC
Noncoal Contractor	1	NC	NC	NC
Contractor Total	1	NC	NC	NC
TOTAL	11	20.8	10.4	37.2
Notes: NA–Not applicable; NC–Not calculated when N is less than 5

Occupational Fatalities (Surface), 2015

Rate per 100,000 full-time equivalent employees; 95% confidence interval

Commodity, Type of Employer, Industry Sector	Surface Number	Surface Rate	Surface Lower CI	Surface Upper CI
Coal Operator Sector	1	NC	NC	NC
Metal Operator	2	NC	NC	NC
Nonmetal Operator	1	NC	NC	NC
Metal and Nonmetal Operator Sector	3	NC	NC	NC
Stone Operator	2	NC	NC	NC
Sand & Gravel Operator	4	NC	NC	NC
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator Sector	6	7.5	2.7	16.3
Operator Total	10	6.0	2.9	11.1
Coal Contractor	2	NC	NC	NC
Noncoal Contractor	3	NC	NC	NC
Contractor Total	5	10.5	3.4	24.5
TOTAL	15	7.0	3.9	11.6
Note: NC–Not calculated when N is less than 5

Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries, 2015

Rate per 100 full-time equivalent employees; 95% confidence interval

Commodity, Type of Employer, Industry Sector	Total Number	Total Rate	Total Lower CI	Total Upper CI
Coal Operator Sector	1,643	2.3	2.2	2.4
Metal Operator	604	1.6	1.4	1.7
Nonmetal Operator	350	1.6	1.4	1.8
Metal and Nonmetal Operator Sector	954	1.6	1.5	1.7
Stone Operator	1,115	1.9	1.8	2.0
Sand & Gravel Operator	308	1.3	1.1	1.4
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator Sector	1,423	1.7	1.6	1.8
Operator Total	4,020	1.9	1.8	1.9
Coal Contractor	172	1.0	0.9	1.2
Noncoal Contractor	325	0.9	0.8	1.0
Contractor Total	497	0.9	0.9	1.0
TOTAL	4,517	1.7	1.6	1.7

Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries (Underground), 2015

Rate per 100 full-time equivalent employees; 95% confidence interval

Commodity, Type of Employer, Industry Sector	Underground Number	Underground Rate	Underground Lower CI	Underground Upper CI
Coal Operator Sector	1,210	3.3	3.2	3.5
Metal Operator	124	1.9	1.6	2.2
Nonmetal Operator	44	1.6	1.2	2.2
Metal and Nonmetal Operator Sector	168	1.8	1.5	2.1
Stone Operator	40	1.9	1.3	2.6
Sand & Gravel Operator	NA	NA	NA	NA
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator Sector	40	1.9	1.3	2.6
Operator Total	1,418	3.0	2.8	3.1
Coal Contractor	63	1.9	1.5	2.4
Noncoal Contractor	22	1.1	0.7	1.7
Contractor Total	85	1.6	1.3	2.0
TOTAL	1,503	2.8	2.7	3.0
Note: NA–Not applicable

Nonfatal Lost-time Injuries (Surface), 2015

Rate per 100 full-time equivalent employees; 95% confidence interval

Commodity, Type of Employer, Industry Sector	Surface Number	Surface Rate	Surface Lower CI	Surface Upper CI
Coal Operator Sector	433	1.3	1.1	1.4
Metal Operator	480	1.5	1.4	1.6
Nonmetal Operator	306	1.6	1.4	1.8
Metal and Nonmetal Operator Sector	786	1.5	1.4	1.6
Stone Operator	1,075	1.9	1.8	2.0
Sand & Gravel Operator	308	1.3	1.1	1.4
Stone and Sand & Gravel Operator Sector	1,383	1.7	1.6	1.8
Operator Total	2,602	1.6	1.5	1.6
Coal Contractor	109	0.8	0.6	0.9
Noncoal Contractor	303	0.9	0.8	1.0
Contractor Total	412	0.9	0.8	1.0
TOTAL	3,014	1.4	1.4	1.5

  

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