The mining industry is a fascinating one, full of facets that may be dangerous due to the environment of which employees work.  According to the 2008 edition of the National Safety Council’s “Injury Facts” slips and falls are leading causes of injury in the mining industry.

The top five events that lead to workplace injury in the mining industry are as follows:

1. Contact with/struck by/caught in object or equipment (3,900)
2. Overexertion (2,130)
3. Fall on the same level (820)
4. Fall to lower level (560)
5. Exposure to harmful substance (520)

The top five sources of workplace injury or illness in the mining industry are as listed below:

1. Part, materials (1600)
2. Floor, ground surfaces (1370)
3. Machinery (1200)
4. Vehicles (850)
5. Chemicals, chemical products (630)

If you add the total of both types of falls (same level and lower level) you will see that falls take up a large portion of the different types of events that lead to injuries for the mining industry.  Also, the second highest source of injury is floor, ground surfaces.  These statistics lead to the conclusion that slip resistant flooring could help diminish the third and fourth leading events that cause injury (falls).

Between 1996 and 1999, 28 miners died from slips or falls.  Some 86 percent of these fatalities occurred in operations other than coal mining (For example: metal, stone, sand and gravel mining). The greatest proportion (40 percent) of fall fatalities occurred in stone mining, an industry that accounts for about 24 percent of the average total employment in mining.  From 1996 to 1999, more contractors died from falls in the stone mining sector than contractors in all other sectors combined. Contractor workers account for more than half of the fatalities (53 percent) recorded.

In order to keep workers safe under harsh conditions, prevention is necessary.  To prevent accidents such as slips and falls, non slip metal stair treads, nosings, grating or plate can be easily retrofitted over existing structures to keep workers on their feet.

Radomsky, Mark C, Ramani, R V, Flick, Joseph P  “Slips, trips and falls in construction & mining: causes & controls” Professional Safety. 1 Sept 2001.

“Spotlight on mining” Safety+Health.  Nov 2008.

Filed under: Workplace Safety by Beth Faraci