Key points
- Electrical accidents are a leading cause of death for mining workers.
- Preventing electrical hazards can help reduce the risk of injury on mining worksites.
- NIOSH is working to address the issues and hazards that lead to electrical injuries in the mining industry.
Hazardous health outcomes
Electrical accidents are a leading cause of mining deaths. Electrical accidents accounted for over 6% of deaths between 2000 and 2009.
Mining is one of the most dangerous industries for electrical injuries. The electrical fatality rate for the mining industry is about 8 to 12 times the rate for all U.S. industries. These rates are from data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2003–2009.
In mining, electrical injuries are disproportionately deadly. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) data for 2000–2009 show one fatality for every 22 electrical-related mining injuries. By comparison, there is an average of one fatality for every 203 injuries for all other mining injury types.
Interventions
NIOSH researchers have addressed the prevention of mining electrical injuries with several studies focusing on:
- Power system design
- Engineering controls
- Work organization and procedures
- Protective equipment
- Human factors
Next steps
NIOSH researchers will continue to address issues and hazards linked to past electrical injuries and potential hazards from new technology.
Examples include shock and burn hazards associated with switching equipment and cables, improved training, battery safety, and equipment permissibility.