NIOSH Extramural Research and Training

Miner Safety and Health Training Program

Key points

  • NIOSH funds two mine safety and health training programs in the Western United States.
  • The training aims to reduce occupational illnesses, injuries, and fatalities to miners and other workers in mining operations.
Surface mine with piles of gravel and heavy equipment.

Overview

Mining remains one of the most challenging and demanding occupations in the United States. In 2021, the fatality mining rate of 16.2 was nearly four times the rate for all industries.1 Respiratory diseases, hearing loss, musculoskeletal disorders, and traumatic injuries are critical health concerns.

NIOSH has supported mining safety and health training in the Western United States since 1999. It complements the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Training Acade­my in West Virginia. MSHA's academy serves the Eastern mining community, but it's not always easy for miners in Western States to access their trainings. Additionally, certain aspects of mining operations differ between regions, so it is helpful to offer specialized training opportunities.

NIOSH funds two training programs in the Western United States: the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Arizona. The training aims to translate research into workplace practices that:

  • Improve mining safety.
  • Advance the safety and health of miners.
  • Enhance the safety and health of other workers involved in mining operations.
  • Increase the quantity of qualified mine safety and health trainers in the Western United States.

Training programs

Colorado School of Mines

The Energy, Mining and Construction Industry Safety Program at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) runs a training center. Depending on the training activity, CSM utilizes a combination of teaching pedagogies. This includes classroom discussion, hands-on exercises, games and group activities, and participation at the Edgar Underground Mine. CSM also provides opportunities for online delivery for these courses.

Current efforts are focused on two specific aims:

  1. Implementing a training program intended to satisfy MSHA requirements for New Miner and Annual Refresher training.
  2. Facilitate innovative education experiences for students, faculty and staff at CSM and other mining schools in Western states.

University of Arizona

The Western Mining Safety and Health Training Resource Center at the University of Arizona developed the Learning Laboratories (LLs) program. This industry-academic collaboration involves three universities and more than 20 mining organizations and operators in the Western United States. Operators participating in the LLs program have shown measurable safety improvements. They've reported reductions of up to 23.6% for average injuries and up to 72.5% for days lost.

Building upon these successes, the Center is expanding their LLs program through three specific aims:

  1. Provide new pathways for training and research, including new partnerships to reach underserved groups and new computer and app-based materials.
  2. Add new health modules to training materials.
  3. Develop, extend, and integrate a continuum of training resources, from easily integrated tabletop games to computer-based synthetic learning environments.

Funding sources

NIOSH funds Miner Safety and Health Training Program – Western United States in three-year cycles. The current cycle, 2023-2026, is funded under RFA-OH-23-004. Previously, the training was funded from 2020-2023 under RFA-OH-20-001.

Print
Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  1. NIOSH [2022]. Number and rate of occupational mining fatalities by year, 1983 - 2022. Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and health